Gravure Printing Ink Market Size - Industry Outlook Report, Regional Analysis, Application Development, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share, Forecast, 2025 - 20324
Report ID: GMI3914
Download Free PDF
Authors:
Kiran Pulidindi,
Gravure Printing Ink Market Size
The global gravure printing ink market achieved notable revenue in 2024 and is projected to grow at an impressive CAGR from 2025 to 2034, driven by the rising demand for gravure inks in packaging, publication, and decorative printing where long run, high-quality printing is needed. Gravure printing inks provide the maximum print quality, color depth, and consistent performance in flexible packaging for food and consumer packaged goods.
Rising urbanization and e-commerce are driving the increasing importance of consumer-packaged goods, which are visually appealing, delivering gravure inks. As per UN.org, currently, 55% of the global population resides in urban areas, and this share is projected to rise to 68% by 2050.
New developments in ink formulations create gravure inks with increased adhesion, drying time, and print consistency. Gravure inks are acceptable for use in high-speed printing operations. Environmental regulation and a growing interest in sustainability are causing manufacturers to develop "greener" gravure inks for their customers, especially for solvent-based consumables with lower VOC emissions.
Other options are water-based and/or bio-renewable equivalent inks for gravure use, however, solvent-based inks continue to dominate due to their rapid drying rate, and compatibility with many flexible films. While packaging manufacturers want performance, they are also looking for sustainable solutions, placing gravure ink suppliers in the position of needing to invest in R&D and digital solutions to fulfill the requirements of developed industry standards. The growth of the market is considered as
A key driver in the gravure printing ink sector is the growing prevalence of flexible bags, most notably in food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, and personal care. Brand owners are prioritizing vibrant packaging that will help them differentiate their products on the shelf and that's also accompanied by high-quality graphics. Gravure inks deliver the capability to provide color saturation and the clean reproduction of the fine details needed to create that appearance, however, gravure inks face regulatory hurdles and have environmental issues to overcome.
For instance, solvent-based gravure inks contain VOCs which become an issue with air quality and health in the hands of ink users. Regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and European REACH have strictly placed regulations on VOC emissions which have led shift to environmentally friendly alternatives like water-based inks and UV-curable inks.
Gravure Printing Ink Market Trends
The gravure printing ink market is significantly transforming because of technological developments, sustainability changes, and consumer behavior shifts. One sizeable trend is the propensity towards investing in gravure inks with low VOCs and water-based gravure inks due to environmental regulations and brand owner’s sustainability goals. The gravure printing ink industry is significantly transforming because of technological developments, sustainability changes, and consumer behavior shifts.
One sizeable trend is the propensity towards investing in gravure inks with low VOCs and water-based gravure inks due to environmental regulations and brand owner’s sustainability goals. While solvent-based inks still dominate the gravure market, especially for high-speed packaging applications, pressure to reduce carbon footprints has made producers work toward hybrid inks that provide both performance and sustainability.
Additionally, digital integration is being realized as gravure presses are increasingly enabled with automation real-time color management systems, and AI-based quality control systems. The emphasis on speed and accuracy for lower waste levels is a critical component to enable printers to outpace each other's turnaround while improving their credibility.
Gravure Printing Ink Market Analysis
The solvent-based gravure printing inks segment accounted for the largest share in 2024 and is estimated to grow at a notable CAGR throughout 2034. Solvent-based inks provide advantages, such as shorter drying times, stronger adhesion to a greater number of substrates, and excellent resistance to smudging rub-off, and wear. These benefits mean that solvent-based inks will continue to be the ink of choice for flexible packaging applications where plastic films, aluminum foils, laminated materials, and a variety of materials commonly used in food and pharmaceutical packaging are involved.
Solvent-based inks are also designed for use with high-speed printing, which often occurs during mass production or for long-run print jobs in gravure printing applications. Although there is increased opposition to solvent inks, along with more legal accountability related to the implications of their use and displays of health and environmental concerns, gravure printing is still widely accepted. Their overall superior performance and greater stability during the production process will often prevail and dominate the use of solvent-based inks. Manufacturers have and continue to develop low-VOC variants and integrate new recovery systems for solvents, which can minimize VOC emissions as much as possible.
The packaging segment in the gravure printing ink market is expected to gain notable revenues by 2034. The other major trend is the demand for printed flexible packaging, driven by demand across food and beverage, personal care, pharmaceuticals, and household goods. The high-speed printing and quality associated with gravure printing continue to be preferred for current and new package formats with visual elements, such as pouches, sachets, wrappers, shrink sleeves, and laminates.
Gravure inks can serve the print aesthetic demanded by premium packaging applications while offering multiple rich, vibrant colors, fine lines, and consistent print reproduction. The demands from consumers for packaged goods, due to the rise of organized retail and e-commerce, have dramatically increased the demand for visually appealing and functional packaging. There is also a push from companies to source sustainable packaging, such as recyclable films and biodegradable substrates, which compels strikers to reformulate inks to qualify for compatibility and functionality.
Asia Pacific gravure printing ink market is expected to grow at a notable CAGR during 2025-2034. This is because of the large expansions of the manufacturing and consumer goods industries in China, India, Vietnam, and Indonesia. In those countries, there is a massive demand for packaged foods, pharmaceuticals, personal care, and e-commerce logistics all require flexible packaging and printed labels. Gravure printing has been widely adopted across the packaging industry in Asia Pacific - especially for its high print quality and ability to produce printed products in mass.
The cost benefits of adopting gravure printing in Asia Pacific showcase the investment opportunities there, specifically with the growing government policies and trained workforce, which will assist in transitioning high-level manufacturing jobs and global players to the area. Major players are relocating to Asia Pacific to address growing needs for high-performance, competitively-priced, and sustainable gravure inks and most of the regional ink formulators are developing solvent recovery systems and environmentally friendly formulations because of heightened environmental consciousness.
Gravure Printing Ink Market Share
Leading players in the gravure printing ink industry include:
To enhance the levels of competitiveness in the gravure printing ink market, manufacturers and suppliers are employing multiple strategic initiatives. One of the central approaches is through constant innovation with low-VOC and water-based gravure inks to comply with environmental regulation requirements and initiatives toward sustainability goals. Companies are also increasing their global reach through acquisitions, mergers, and partnerships, particularly in the high-growth sector of the Asia Pacific region. Another strategic initiative firms are emphasizing is R&D., while firms are innovating products for high-performance solid inks required for new substrates, including, recyclable packaged materials, or non-biodegradable bags. Moreover, manufacturers are adopting technology into their operations to improve formulation, quality control, and color matching.
Gravure Printing Ink Industry News
Research methodology, data sources & validation process
This report draws on a structured research process built around direct industry conversations, proprietary modelling, and rigorous cross-validation and not just desk research.
Our 6-step research process
1. Research design & analyst oversight
At GMI, our research methodology is built on a foundation of human expertise, rigorous validation, and complete transparency. Every insight, trend analysis, and forecast in our reports is developed by experienced analysts who understand the nuances of your market.
Our approach integrates extensive primary research through direct engagement with industry participants and experts, complemented by comprehensive secondary research from verified global sources. We apply quantified impact analysis to deliver dependable forecasts, while maintaining complete traceability from original data sources to final insights.
2. Primary research
Primary research forms the backbone of our methodology, contributing nearly 80% to overall insights. It involves direct engagement with industry participants to ensure accuracy and depth in analysis. Our structured interview program covers regional and global markets, with inputs from C-suite executives, directors, and subject matter experts. These interactions provide strategic, operational, and technical perspectives, enabling well-rounded insights and reliable market forecasts.
3. Data mining & market analysis
Data mining is a key part of our research process, contributing nearly 20% to the overall methodology. It involves analysing market structure, identifying industry trends, and assessing macroeconomic factors through revenue share analysis of major players. Relevant data is collected from both paid and unpaid sources to build a reliable database. This information is then integrated to support primary research and market sizing, with validation from key stakeholders such as distributors, manufacturers, and associations.
4. Market sizing
Our market sizing is built on a bottom-up approach, starting with company revenue data gathered directly through primary interviews, alongside production volume figures from manufacturers and installation or deployment statistics. These inputs are then pieced together across regional markets to arrive at a global estimate that stays grounded in actual industry activity.
5. Forecast model & key assumptions
Every forecast includes explicit documentation of:
✓ Key growth drivers and their assumed impact
✓ Restraining factors and mitigation scenarios
✓ Regulatory assumptions and policy change risk
✓ Technology adoption curve parameter
✓ Macroeconomic assumptions (GDP growth, inflation, currency)
✓ Competitive dynamics and market entry/exit expectations
6. Validation & quality assurance
The final stages involve human validation, where domain experts manually review filtered data to identify nuances and contextual errors that automated systems might miss. This expert review adds a critical layer of quality assurance, ensuring data aligns with research objectives and domain-specific standards.
Our triple-layer validation process ensures maximum data reliability:
✓ Statistical Validation
✓ Expert Validation
✓ Market Reality Check
Trust & credibility
Verified data sources
Trade publications
Security & defense sector journals and trade press
Industry databases
Proprietary and third-party market databases
Regulatory filings
Government procurement records and policy documents
Academic research
University studies and specialist institution reports
Company reports
Annual reports, investor presentations, and filings
Expert interviews
C-suite, procurement leads, and technical specialists
GMI archive
13,000+ published studies across 30+ industry verticals
Trade data
Import/export volumes, HS codes, and customs records
Parameters studied & evaluated
Every data point in this report is validated through primary interviews, true bottom-up modelling, and rigorous cross-checks. Read about our research process →