Digital packaging print market set to hit US$36.9B by 2030 as brands accelerate customization technologies – Smithers report

GLOBAL – The market for digital print in packaging and labels is entering a period of rapid expansion, with global value projected to climb from US$22.0 billion in 2025 to US$36.9 billion by 2030, according to new data from Smithers.

This represents an impressive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.9% and reflects increasing demand for short-run, personalized, and quick-turnaround packaging formats.

Smithers’ latest report, ‘The Future of Digital Print for Packaging to 2030’, notes that although digital printing currently accounts for just 1.3% of total packaging print volume and 4.1% of value, its footprint is growing.

The shift is driven by the rollout of next-generation, high-throughput digital presses designed specifically for packaging converters, technology that is increasingly being installed in corrugated, label, and flexible packaging plants.

Corrugated packaging is set to experience the fastest value growth. Smithers expects the segment to more than double from current levels, reaching US$8.2 billion by 2030.

Inkjet postprint technology is at the centre of this growth, with box plants adopting high-performance systems to meet surging demand for printed e-commerce boxes, retail displays, and high-quality shelf-ready packaging.

Labels, the earliest adopters of digital printing, will see comparatively moderate expansion, with an expected CAGR of 8 percent through 2030.

With an estimated 8,100 narrow-web toner and inkjet presses already installed globally, digital now accounts for 23.3% of label print value, far ahead of other packaging segments.

Flexible packaging is emerging as another high-growth area. Smithers predicts digital print for flexibles will expand at 11.6% annually to 2030, creating new opportunities for toner OEMs and inkjet manufacturers alike as chemistries and substrates become increasingly compatible.

The industry’s momentum is being reinforced by major technology suppliers investing heavily in innovation. HP Indigo continues to advance its LEP-based digital presses for flexible packaging and shrink sleeves, enabling converters to deliver customized runs with reduced waste.

EFI has expanded its Nozomi single-pass inkjet platform, originally built for corrugated, to accelerate high-speed, full-colour printing in industrial environments.

Meanwhile, Xeikon is strengthening its toner and UV inkjet portfolio with presses tailored for food-safe and pharmaceutical packaging.

Canon and Durst are also pushing deeper into digitally printed cartons and labels, offering higher resolution, faster speeds, and improved sustainability credentials.

With brands increasingly prioritizing agility, versioning, and reduced inventory, analysts say digital print will continue gaining ground across packaging sectors, reshaping production workflows and reinforcing the industry’s shift toward on-demand manufacturing.

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