Water-Based Inks

Global water-based inks is gaining widespread popularity across regions in coming years. According to the WK Research, “Global Water-Based Inks Professional Survey Report 2024, Forecast to 2029”, the growth of the market of water-based inks is expected to be driven by the high demand from the printing industry. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the 2024-2029 period is projected to be 7.51% base on WK Research regression analysis model.

Analysts’ Viewpoint:
“The water based ink market is encountering delayed to direct development which is required to proceed sooner rather than later, chiefly determined by the profoundly developing Asia-Pacific, and RoW districts. Moderate measure of new item improvements and acquisitions are made by various market players to serve the applications later on. Significant interest of the water based ink was comes from packaging application. The development in creased cardboard and collapsing containers applications is additionally driving the development for water based ink market”, said Kevin Rose, Senior analyst, in WK Research.

Product Introduction:
Inks are chemical compounds that include reins, pigments, lubricants, stabilizers, fluorescents, and surfactants, among other things. Water replaces the organic solvent in Water-Based Inks. Water-Based Inks are made up of 55 percent water, 5% organic solvent, and 40 percent pigments and resin in general. When water is replaced with an organic solvent, the ink requires 2- 3 times more energy to evaporate than ink without an organic solvent, as well as a slower drying rate. A spot of ink that contains either pigment or dyes in a colloidal suspension with water as the solvent is known as Water-Based ink.

Market insight:
Because of the Market’s high potential and steady growth, the Global Water-Based Inks Market has become more competitive and price-sensitive. Water-Based Inks reduce the amount of hazardous waste produced. Because of the increased demand for environmentally friendly inks in emerging economies such as the Asia Pacific and North America, the Water-Based Inks Market is expected to grow significantly. The main disadvantage of Water-Based Inks is their slow drying and printing speed. Because Water-Based Inks are soluble in alkaline solutions, their use is restricted in highly alkaline environments. However, due to the high surface energy of water molecules, these inks cannot wet and print smoothly on difficult substrates.
The aforementioned factors stifle the Market for Water-Based Ink. Continuous innovation in Water-Based Ink, such as the development of pH stable inks and advancements in resins used in ink formulation, however, offers potential Market expansion opportunities. UV-cured printing inks are a superior alternative to traditional inks, and they are used in a variety of printing processes including inkjet, gravure, and flexography. Because the drying process is faster, UV-cured inks do not contain volatile organic compounds (VOC). During the forecast period, the aforementioned factors will restrain the Water-Based Inks Market. When compared to non-Water-Based printing inks, Water-Based printing inks require significantly more time to cure.

Competition Landscape:
This WK-chem Research market report is designed to help clients improve their market position, and in line with this, this report provides a detailed analysis of several leading water-based inks companies that include: DIC Corporation, Dow Corning Corporation, Evonik Industries AG, Flint Group, Huber Group, Siegwerk Druckfarben AG & Co. KGaA, T & K Toka Co. Ltd., The Sherwin-Williams Company, Toyo Ink SC Holdings Co., Ltd.

Segmentation of Water-Based Inks Market:
According to the type, the market for water-based inks is divided into: Acrylic, Maleic, Polyester, Shellac, Polyurethane, Phenolic, Others. Acrylic Segment of the water- based inks held the largest share in the water- based inks market. As these resins provides excellent press and shelf-life stability, high gloss, and water resistance. Acrylic resins offer soft-film ink polymers with excellent resistance to ice water crinkles, pH stability, and high adhesion therefore, these are used in the printing. The growing advertising needs of enterprises across the globe, along with extensive technological proliferation, currently represent the key factors driving the growth of printing industry. Organizations are increasingly adopting printers as they are more cost-effective and efficient for bulk printing. Widespread use of high-quality printed packaging material for advertising and branding acts as another major growth-inducing factor. Furthermore, the steady demand for physical hardbound books is another factor driving the growth of the market.

According to the application, the market for water-based inks is divided into: Cardboards and Cartons, Flexible Packaging, Product Packaging, Garments, Others. Flexible Packaging has the largest market share. The Flexible packaging segment accounted for a major share of the water-based inks market due to the rise in demand for these inks in corrugated packaging in the food & beverages industry. Factors such as ability of flexible packages to shape into pouch, bag, liner or overwrap will provide lucrative opportunities for industry participants. Food & beverage, and personal care companies demand for packages that adds value and marketability to their products. In addition, strong appeal for lighter-weight packaging will further propel flexible packaging product over the projected timeframe. Consumer interaction with packages is changing. With an increasing focus on sustainability, traditional rigid packaging solutions are being replaced by innovative, flexible packaging solutions. Increasing market demands for consumer-friendly packages and enhanced product protection have propelled flexible packaging as a viable and cost-effective alternative. Flexible packaging not only plays a pivotal role in reducing beverage and product waste but also allows online brands to reinvigorate their packaging to enhance the e-commerce experience. The prevalence of flexible packaging in the beverage sector is quite evident when browsing through the selection in the vending machines. The products for sales are convenient, single-use, and are mostly packaged in flexible films. These factors will drive the growth of the market in the forecast period.

Water-Based Inks Market: Regional Analysis
In terms of geography, the global water-based inks market has been segmented into: North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, South America, and the Middle East and Africa. APAC dominates the water- based inks market with the most share followed by North America and Europe. The economy of APAC is mainly influenced by the economic dynamics of countries such as China and India, but with growing foreign direct investment for economic development of South East Asia, the current scenario is changing. Countries in South East Asia are witnessing high growth in the packaging and consumer goods industry, due to the large prospective population in the region coupled with the factors which are inducing the growth of the market such as rising personal disposable income and increasing internet penetration in the region. Further, distribution of consumer goods market has a huge role in the success of a company as it directly impacts the demand and supply in the market and hence the revenue. With the rising penetration of internet and e-commerce across the globe, the reach of consumer goods companies has increased. The perks of e-commerce have not only benefitted the companies but also the consumers in terms of pricing and a vast range of options available to them. Moreover, new customers have also been attracted by the online distribution route. The coronavirus pandemic has had far-reaching consequences beyond the spread of the disease and efforts to quarantine it. As the pandemic has spread around the globe, concerns have shifted from supply-side manufacturing issues to decreased business. The current epidemic outbreak has deeply influenced consumers' daily life and in addition to the impact on coronavirus pandemic has had far-reaching consequences beyond the spread of the disease and efforts to quarantine it. As the pandemic has spread around the globe, concerns have shifted from supply-side manufacturing issues to decreased business.