Features:
- $44.8 billion is the value of the printed label market in 2024, with a volume of 1.34 billion A4 equivalents
- 4.6% CAGR is the value growth rate to 2029; in volume terms the market will grow at 4.4% CAGR.
In 2023, the market experienced a contraction, with demand for label stock falling sharply, though volumes of printed labels were less affected. The underlying reasons for this are complex but primarily relate to the relaxation of inventory built up in the supply chain in 2021 and 2022. By 2024, volumes are beginning to return to normal levels, and it is projected that steady growth will resume over the five years leading to 2029.
Printed labels and sleeves are produced from a range of paper and polymeric materials, and used to identify the contents of packaging, bottles, and cans. They can also provide brand identification and differentiation for the product manufacturers. This report examines the global markets for printed labels, with market data being presented in converter value and printed volume terms as the equivalent of A4 prints.
Key Questions:
- Which areas of growth can the industry expect to see over the next five years?
- Where are the areas of the market under threat?
- When will the industry fully recover from the impact of global economic events?
- What impact are environmental regulations, such as the PPWR, having on the printed labels industry?
- How is the global drive for sustainability driving demand for pressure-sensitive labels and sleeves?
This report benefits:
- Printer manufacturers
- Ink and label substrate suppliers
- Packaging converters and print service providers
Table of Contents
Executive summary
Introduction and methodology
- Introduction
- Objective and scope
- Methodology
- Definitions
- Label format
- Print process
- Data
Market trends and drivers for label printing
- Introduction
- World economic outlook
- Total population as of 1 July (million)
- Employment
- Spending habits
- Healthcare
- Globalisation of brand identities
- Changes to packaging materials and formats
- Glass bottle, metal can, or plastic bottle?
- Rigid plastic to flexible packaging
- Digital printing and displacement of analogue processes
- Leaner print service provider business models
- Convenience
- Legislative influences and their impact on labels
- Anti-counterfeiting and traceability
- Smart and Intelligent Labels
Cutting-edge technology developments
- Introduction
- Sustainability, recycling and reduced environmental impact
- Lightweighting of label formats
- Recyclability - desire for removability (floating label material in material recovery phase), purity of PET recyclate
- Arrival of bio-plastic label materials
- Paper
- PLA (polylactic acid)
- Polyolefin
- PET
- Greater automation in label printing
- Digital printing
- Electrophotography
- Inkjet
- Inks and Toners
- Premiumisation of brands via packaging
- New substrates
- Paper
- Clear film
- Metallised labels
- New finishing systems/embellishment
- Anti-counterfeiting solutions
- Overt security features
- Covert security features
- Tamper evident labelling
- Availability of print systems for sleeve formats
Label format markets
- Overview
- Wet glue labels
- Wet glue label print processes
- Wet glue label geographic markets
- Pressure-sensitive labels
- Pressure sensitive label geographic markets
- Multi-part tracking labels
- Multi-part tracking label print processes
- Multi-part tracking label geographic markets
- In-mould labels
- In-mould label print processes
- In-mould label geographic markets
- Sleeves
- Sleeves print processes
- Sleeves geographic markets
Label printing process markets
- Overview
- Analogue
- Offset lithography
- Sheetfed litho
- Heatset web offset litho
- Coldset (web) litho
- Gravure
- Label type
- Geographic markets
- Flexography
- Label type
- Geographic markets
- Screen
- Label type
- Geographic markets
- Letterpress
- Label type
- Geographic markets
- Digital
- Electrophotography
- Label type
- Geographic markets
- Inkjet
- Label type
- Geographic markets
Label printing end-use markets
- Overview
- Food
- Beverage
- Healthcare
- Cosmetics
- Other consumer goods
- Industrial
- Multi-part tracking labels
- Other labels
Label printing geographic markets
- Overview
- Western Europe
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Spain
- UK
- Other Western Europe
- North America
- Asia
- China
- India
- Japan
- South Korea
- Other Asia
- Latin America
- Brazil
- Mexico
- Other Latin America
- Eastern Europe
- Poland
- Russia
- Other Eastern Europe
- Middle East
- Africa
- Australasia
Figures
- Printed label output by region, 2022 (% share by value)
- Printed label output by region, 2022 (% prints)
- Changes in regional shares, 2019-29
- Changes in shares of label formats, 2019-29
- Evolution of digital print shares, 2019-29 (%)
- Global printed label output by process type, 2022 (% share by value)
- Global printed label output by process type, 2022 (% prints)
- Global label printing output by end-use market, 2022 (% share by value)
- Global label printing output by end-use market, 2022 (% prints)
- In-mould labelling process
- Offset lithography print process
- Gravure printing process
- Flexographic printing process
- Electrophotographic printing process
- Piezo continuous inkjet process
- US Nutritional Facts label
- Geographic share by volume (2021)
- Geographic share by volume (2026)
- Geographic share by value (2021)
- Geographic share by value (2026)
Tables
- GDP growth trends, 2019-29
- Timeline for the development of label technology, 2021-2026
- Global label printing output by label format, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
For each label format:
- Global printing output by print process, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Printing output by geographic market, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
List of label formats:
- Wet glue labels
- Pressure-sensitive labels
- Multi-part tracking labels
- In-mould labels
- Sleeves
- Evolution of share of analogue vs digital from 2016 to 2026
- Global label printing output by print process, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
For each print process:
- Printing output by label type, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Printing output by geographic market, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
List of print processes:
- Sheetfed litho
- Heatset (web) litho
- Coldset (web) litho
- Gravure
- Flexography
- Screen
- Letterpress
- Electrophotography
- Inkjet
- Global label printing output by end-use market, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Food: printing output by geographic market, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Beverage: printing output by geographic market, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Healthcare: printing output by geographic market, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Cosmetics: printing output by geographic market, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Other consumer goods: printing output by geographic market, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Industrial: printing output by geographic market, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Logistics: printing output by geographic market, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Other labels: printing output by geographic market, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Label printing output by region, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Western Europe: economic and demographic data, 2019-29
- Western Europe: label printing output by national market, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Western Europe: label printing output by label type, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Western Europe: label printing output by print process, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Western Europe: label printing output by end-use market, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
For each country:
- Economic and demographic data, 2019-29
- Label printing output by label type, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Label printing output by print process, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Label printing output by end-use market, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
List of countries:
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Spain
- UK
- Other Western Europe
- North America: economic and demographic data, 2019-29
- North America: label printing output by national market, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- North America: label printing output by label type, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- North America: label printing output by print process, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- North America: label printing output by end-use market, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
For each country:
- Economic and demographic data, 2019-29
- Label printing output by label type, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Label printing output by print process, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Label printing output by end-use market, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
List of countries:
- Canada
- US
- Asia: economic and demographic data, 2019-29
- Asia: label printing output by national market, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Asia: label printing output by label type, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Asia: label printing output by print process, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Asia: label printing output by end-use market, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
For each country:
- Economic and demographic data, 2019-29
- Label printing output by label type, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Label printing output by print process, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Label printing output by end-use market, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
List of countries:
- China
- India
- Japan
- South Korea
- Other Asia
- Latin America: economic and demographic data, 2019-29
- Latin America: label printing output by national market, 2019-29 ($ million ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Latin America: label printing output by label type, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Latin America: label printing output by print process, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Latin America: label printing output by end-use market, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
For each country:
- Economic and demographic data, 2019-29
- Label printing output by label type, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Label printing output by print process, 2019-29 ($ million million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Label printing output by end-use market, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
List of countries:
- Poland Russia
- Other Eastern Europe
- Middle East: economic and demographic data, 2019-29
- Middle East: label printing output by national market, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Middle East: label printing output by label type, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Middle East: label printing output by print process, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Middle East: label printing output by end-use market, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
For each country:
- Economic and demographic data, 2019-29
- Label printing output by label type, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Label printing output by print process, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Label printing output by end-use market, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
List of countries:
- Turkey
- Other Middle East
- Africa: economic and demographic data, 2019-29
- Africa: label printing output by label type, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Africa: label printing output by print process, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Africa: label printing output by end-use market, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Australasia: economic and demographic data, 2019-29
- Australasia: label printing output by label type, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Australasia: label printing output by print process, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Australasia: label printing output by end-use market, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
List of countries:
- Brazil
- Mexico
- Other Latin America
- Eastern Europe: economic and demographic data, 2019-29
- Eastern Europe: label printing output by national market, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Eastern Europe: label printing output by label type, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Eastern Europe: label printing output by print process, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Eastern Europe: label printing output by end-use market, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
For each country:
- Economic and demographic data, 2019-29
- Label printing output by label type, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Label printing output by print process, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Label printing output by end-use market, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent) label type, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Middle East: label printing output by print process, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Middle East: label printing output by end-use market, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
For each country:
- Economic and demographic data, 2019-29
- Label printing output by label type, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Label printing output by print process, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Label printing output by end-use market, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
List of countries:
- Turkey
- Other Middle East
- Africa: economic and demographic data, 2019-29
- Africa: label printing output by label type, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Africa: label printing output by print process, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Africa: label printing output by enduse market, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Australasia: economic and demographic data, 2019-29
- Australasia: label printing output by label type, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Australasia: label printing output by print process, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
- Australasia: label printing output by end-use market, 2019-29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)