The State of Print: A Data-Driven Look at the Printing Industry (2023–2025)

Trends and Insights Business & Marketing

The printing industry is rapidly evolving, driven by new technologies, rising demand for personalization, and a focus on sustainability. While traditional print adapts to digital disruption, growth is strongest in packaging, industrial, and hybrid digital-print segments. This post provides a data-driven overview of global and U.S. trends from 2023–2025—serving as a strategic resource for marketers, journalists, and investors looking for key stats and insights on the industry's direction.

Key Takeaways

This section highlights some of the most crucial statistics offering a snapshot of the printing industry's current state and future trajectory.

The global printers market size was valued at USD 53.28 billion in 2024.
The global printers market size is expected to reach USD 55.63 billion in 2025.
The global digital print market is worth $167.5 billion globally in 2025.
Employment in the U.S. printing and related support activities sector was 352,300 in April 2025 .
The Asia Pacific commercial printing market was valued at USD 117.11 billion in 2024.
Global demand for packaging labels is valued at a projected $48.3 billion in 2025.
The Global Textile Printing Market size is estimated at USD 5.79 billion in 2025.
The global direct-to-film printing market size was valued at USD 2.72 billion in 2024.
The Global Eco-Friendly Inks Market was valued at USD 4,707.94 million in 2024.
Digital printing volumes (global) are forecast to increase from 1.8 trillion A4 print equivalents in 2025 to 2.8 trillion in 2035.
There were 361,498 people employed in the Printing industry in the US as of 2025.

Global Printing Market: Overall Size, Growth, & Projections

This section delves into the macroeconomic view of the worldwide printing industry, encompassing various print segments. It covers current valuation, recent growth patterns, and forecasted trends to provide a foundational understanding of global market dynamics.

The global printers market size was valued at USD 53.28 billion in 2024.
The global printers market size is expected to reach USD 55.63 billion in 2025.
The global printers market is expected to have a 4.42% CAGR from 2025 to 2033.
The global printers and copiers market revenue reached USD 9.76 billion in 2024 and is projected to be USD 9.83 billion in 2025.
The global printers market is projected to be worth USD 78.64 billion by 2033.
The global direct-to-film printing market size was valued at USD 2.72 billion in 2024.
The global direct-to-film printing market is projected to grow to USD 2.93 billion in 2025.
The global direct-to-film printing market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.0% from 2025 to 2030.
The global books commercial printing market size was valued at US$ 58,463.2 million in 2024.
The global books commercial printing market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 3.6% from 2025 to 2030.
The global books commercial printing market revenue is forecast to reach US$ 71,119.3 million in 2030.

U.S. Printing Market: In-Depth Look at Size & Trends

Focusing specifically on the United States, this subsection outlines the domestic market's value, employment figures, and key operational statistics. It highlights the scale and dynamics of one of the world's largest print markets.

There were 361,498 people employed in the Printing industry in the US as of 2025.
The number of people employed in the Printing in the US declined -3.0% on average over the five years between 2020 and 2025.
There were 28,191 private industry printing establishments in the U.S. in the 3rd quarter of 2024 .

The producer price index for printing and related support activities in the U.S. was 171.393 in April 2025.
Labor productivity for U.S. printing and related support activities increased by 2.0% in 2024.
Unit labor costs for U.S. printing and related support activities increased by 0.4% in 2024.

Key Printing Segments: Packaging Printing (Global & US)

Packaging printing remains a significant growth engine within the broader industry. This section details its market size, growth rates, and the factors driving its expansion, such as e-commerce and consumer goods demand.

Global demand for packaging labels is valued at a projected $48.3 billion in 2025.
Global sales of packaging labels are forecast to increase at a 3.6% CAGR to reach $57.5 billion in 2030.
Global label and packaging sleeve volumes are projected to rise from 83.0 billion square meters in 2025 to 99.1 billion square meters in 2030.
Pressure-sensitive labels account for 61.9% of the contemporary packaging label market by value in 2025.
Shrink sleeves held a 12.1% market share by volume in the packaging label market in 2024.

Flexo remains the most common print process for labels, accounting for over 40% of output in 2025.
The packaging segment was the largest in the Asia Pacific commercial printing market, capturing 40.63% of the market in 2024.

Key Printing Segments: Commercial Printing (Global & US)

This section focuses on the commercial printing segment, which includes products like marketing collateral, direct mail, and business documents. It examines market values, growth or contraction trends, and the impact of digital alternatives.

The global commercial printing market showed varied revenue contributions by technology, with the total market at USD 480.4 billion in 2023 and projected to reach USD 504.3 billion in 2025.

The Asia Pacific commercial printing market was valued at USD 117.11 billion in 2024.
The Asia Pacific commercial printing market is anticipated to reach USD 121.81 billion in 2025.
The Asia Pacific commercial printing market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 4% during the forecast period from 2025 to 2033.
The Asia Pacific commercial printing market is projected to reach USD 166.77 billion by 2033.
The global books commercial printing market size was valued at USD 58,463.2 million in 2024.

Technological Shifts: Digital vs. Analog

The transition from analog (offset, flexo, gravure) to digital printing technologies is a defining trend. This subsection presents data on market shares, growth rates of digital technologies like inkjet, and the evolving value propositions of each.

The global digital print market is worth $167.5 billion globally in 2025.
The global digital print market value is forecast to increase to $251.1 billion in 2035.
The volume of digitally printed media (global) is forecast to increase from 1.8 trillion A4 print equivalents in 2025 to 2.8 trillion A4 print equivalents in 2035.
This represents a 54.3% increase in digitally printed output volume from 2025 to 2035.
The digital print market will see 304,000 tons of ink and toner sold in 2025.
The value of ink and toner sold for digital print in 2025 is $14.5 billion.
Nearly $5.8 billion will be spent on new digital print machinery in 2025.
Digital printing (inkjet and toner) accounted for 7.0% of label volume in 2024.
Digital printing's share of label volume is forecast to increase to 11.3% in 2030.
The digital printing segment dominated the Asia Pacific commercial printing market by capturing 35.64% of the total market share in 2024.

Regional Breakdown: Printing Hotspots & Growth Areas (Global)

The global printing market shows varied performance across different geographies. This section provides insights into market sizes and growth trends in key regions.

The Asia Pacific commercial printing market was valued at USD 117.11 billion in 2024.
The Asia Pacific commercial printing market is anticipated to reach USD 121.81 billion in 2025.
The Asia Pacific commercial printing market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 4% from 2025 to 2033.
China was the top performer in the Asia Pacific commercial printing market, accounting for 30.85% of the regional share in 2024.
The European printer and printing consumables market is expected to grow to USD 11.3 billion in 2025.
The European printer and printing consumables market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 4.1% to reach USD 16.2 billion in 2034.
In Germany, the printer and printing consumables market is growing at a rate of 4.6% each year (as of early 2025 analysis).
The direct-to-film printing market in Europe accounted for a 36.0% share of the overall global market in 2024.

Employment & Workforce in the Printing Industry (U.S.)

This section looks at employment figures, occupational wages, and workforce trends within the U.S. printing sector, utilizing data primarily from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Employment in the U.S. printing and related support activities sector (seasonally adjusted, all employees) was 352,300 in April 2025.
Employment of production and nonsupervisory employees in the U.S. printing sector (seasonally adjusted) was 243,000 in April 2025.
Average hourly earnings for all employees in the U.S. printing and related support activities sector were $30.29 in April 2025.
Average weekly hours for all employees in the U.S. printing sector were 37.6 in April 2025 .
Average hourly earnings for production and nonsupervisory employees in the U.S. printing sector were $24.47 in April 2025.
Average weekly hours for production and nonsupervisory employees in the U.S. printing sector were 39.4 in April 2025.
There were 8 work-related fatalities in the U.S. printing and related support activities subsector in 2023.

The Future of Print: Innovations & Opportunities

This section explores forward-looking trends and growth opportunities, such as the expansion of automation, increased adoption of personalization, and strategic investments by print service providers.

46.2% of companies surveyed by PRINTING United Alliance expect business conditions to be better in 2025 than they were in 2024.
26.5% of companies surveyed by PRINTING United Alliance expect business conditions in 2025 to be about the same as in 2024.
Just 5.4% of companies surveyed by PRINTING United Alliance expect business conditions in 2025 to be worse than in 2024.
"Increase productivity" is a top priority for 73.5% of companies surveyed by PRINTING United Alliance for 2025.
The global 3D printing market demonstrated significant historical growth, reaching USD 21 billion in 2021. (Statista)

36.6% of companies surveyed by PRINTING United Alliance report that automation has reduced the number of employees needed.
Artificial intelligence is a focus for 33.8% of companies surveyed by PRINTING United Alliance for 2025.
Over 30.3% of consumers in the Asia Pacific region are willing to pay a premium for personalized printed materials.

Sustainability & Environmental Impact: The Greening of Print

Sustainability is a growing focus area for the printing industry. This section compiles statistics related to the adoption of eco-friendly practices and materials.

The Global Eco-Friendly Inks Market was valued at USD 4,707.94 million in 2024.
The Global Eco-Friendly Inks Market size is expected to increase to USD 6,803.23 million by 2031.
The Global Eco-Friendly Inks Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.4% from 2024 to 2031.
In Europe, the adoption rate of sustainable printing materials has been estimated to reach 15% over the past 3 years (as of early 2025 analysis).
Kyocera introduced the Forearth inkjet printer in February 2024, designed to reduce waste by minimizing the impact of fabric and water use in textile printing.

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