NPES (the Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies) and the VDMA (the Mechanical Engineering Industry Association of Germany), have released a joint comprehensive study, Worldwide Market for Print 2.0: Global Opportunities in Packaging. A team of consultants from The Economist Intelligence Unit, the business information arm of The Economist Group and the world’s leading provider of country intelligence, worked closely with a joint taskforce of NPES and VDMA member companies to conduct the most comprehensive research and analysis to date on the global print packaging market. This is the first-ever co-produced study from the NPES and VDMA.
According to the new study, total world packaging revenues grew from $231 billion (USD) in 2011 to $242 billion in 2015 – and between 2015 and 2020 print packaging global revenues are projected to grow by 18% or $44 billion to $286 billion in 2020. Notably in 2015, 78% of total global print packaging revenues were concentrated in the top five markets comprised of the U.S., China, Japan, Germany and the U.K. However, the largest share and fastest pace of future growth will be recognized in emerging nations, primarily in the Asia-Pacific region. The accelerated growth of emerging markets remains the dominant trend and driving force behind the print packaging industry outlook, due to rising middle classes, fast-growing incomes and urbanization. Regionally, Asia-Pacific is the largest market projected to grow to $130 billion by 2020, compared to North America, which is projected to reach $90 billion, and Western Europe projected to reach $52 billion.
All subcategories of print packaging will grow at rates of 3-5% CAGR, with corrugated print packaging garnering the highest share of the global packaging market at $101 billion in 2020 (though demonstrating the slowest rate of growth at 3.5% in 2016-2020). Flexible print packaging will be the fastest growing segment at a 5.7% average annual pace to post revenues of $73 billion in 2020. Specific country markets across developed and emerging economies will experience varying rates of growth in all subcategories, that will also include folding cartons, labels and tags, and other segments – such as direct print on metal and rigid plastics.
“We’re tremendously pleased over the partnership forged with VDMA to further expand the Worldwide Market for Print study series, and to concentrate on the global growth potential existing in all packaging categories, for the mutual benefit of our respective members,” said NPES President Thayer Long. “We look forward to expanding our research relationship with VDMA in the 2017 Phase Two of the WWMP 2.0 series to provide significantly more research findings and keen insights for our members to leverage market opportunities worldwide in the publishing, marketing and commercial print segments.”
“The joint work for the study,” said Dr. Markus Heering, Managing Director of VDMA Printing and Paper Technology, “was a great opportunity to intensify the cooperation of NPES and VDMA. The results of the study are real benefits for our members. We look forward to continuing the cooperation in the years to come. I’m convinced it will create great advantages for our industries.”
The new study is available exclusively to NPES and VDMA members. For more information please contact NPES’ Rekha Ratnam at rratnam@npes.org, or the VDMA’s Jessica Göres at jessica.goeres@vdma.org. Or visit, www.npes.org or www.dup.vdma.org.