The overall market for printing ink grew in 1999, and this trend is expected to continue, though growth rates vary considerably between the European regions. Generally, the volume for packaging inks will grow with the respective GNP for each country. Heatset web offset inks will also increase their market share, while sales for sheet-fed offset and publication gravure inks are expected to stagnate. According to Frost & Sullivan, the manufacture of printing inks in 1999 amounted to 902,400 tonnes. The European Paint Council CEPE established that between 1994 and 1999, the market grew annually by 3.5% in value, and gains are expected to average 3.7% annually until 2003, even though the prices for heatset and publication inks are expected to decline strongly at the same time.
After a period of raw material price stability, the printing ink industry now has to cope with substantial price increases for pigments, resins, solvents and other raw materials. Consequently, printing-ink producers will have to raise prices for their products. It is essential to communicate this necessity convincingly to consumers, and to initiate price increases effectively in this highly sensitive market.