U.S. Demand for Printing Ink to Reach $5.6 Billion
This information is presented in “Printing Inks,” a new study from The Freedonia Group Inc., Cleveland. The study reports that the market for printing raw ink materials is forecast to reach $1.9 billion in 2004, with the best growth anticipated for additives and colorants. The price of raw materials is expected to advance faster than that of inks as competition within the ink industry restrains price increases.
Emerging technologies in digital printing and rapid expansion of the inkjet printing process are expected to support growth of nearly 11% per annum for digital inks through 2004, although these inks will account for only 5% of total ink demand. Flexographic inks will also see above-average growth as they continue to gain market share at the expense of lithographic and gravure types, particularly in packaging applications. Demand for flexographic ink is expected to increase 5.4% per annum to reach $1.3 billion in 2004.