The growth in digital print between 2019 and 2029 is predominantly based on increased demand in books, advertising, commercial print, labels and packaging. Together these products account for 97.5% of the value growth. The highest growth is in packaging, which increases from $6.3 billion in 2019 to $32.5 billion in 2029, a huge increase of 418% over the decade.

Unlike publications and graphics, printed packaging will grow in both analog and digital processes. Book printing is also forecast to grow very strongly from $8.0 billion in 2019 to $23.4 billion in 2029, anincrease of 194% over the 10-year period. Inkjet printing is being adopted in book printing as a means for short-run end-to-end book production that is cost effective. The process enables new product offerings, such as self-publishing. For publishers, digital print allows both the operation of just-in-time supply chains and the ability to keep slow-selling titles available in their catalogs.

The overall print and printed packaging market is shrinking in volume, and only growing analog print by value because of the growth in digital print, which commands premium pricing. By volume the share of overall printed output from digital print processes grows from 2.3% in 2014 to 3.2% in 2019. It more than doubles to 6.7% by 2029.

Global digital printing and printed packaging markets, 2014–29 ($ billion, constant 2018 prices & exchange rates)

Source: Smithers Pira

The figure above shows the digital print market by print product. In 2019, four sectors generate print output values exceeding $10 billion—advertising, commercial, transactional print and labels—together accounting for 75% of total market value. By 2029 seven sectors are over $10 billion—advertising, commercial print, packaging, labels, books, photobooks and transactional print. Advertising and commercial print are the largest sectors by value in 2019 (accounting for 57% of the market), remaining so in 2029 when they account for 50% of value.