Preview of the talk at the International Gravure Days 2025
The Future of Package Printing – Opportunities for Gravure
Gravure printing is used for high-quality print applications that require a sharp, fine image, and is widely used for package printing in many parts of Asia where the high quality and visual appeal of gravure printing is recognised and appreciated.
Gravure printing is mainly used in printed packaging for flexible packaging although the technology is also used to some extent for labels, sleeves, cartons and corrugated preprint as well as for coating applications. It can produce very high print quality on lower-grade paper and board substrates, but its major use is in flexible packaging, where it is valued for its high quality and consistency over long print runs.
Based on the new Smithers report The Future of Package Printing to 2029, the market for gravure in this space grew from $49.8 billion in 2019 to $55.6 billion in 2024 and is forecast to grow by 3.8% CAGR by 2029 when it will be worth $67.0 billion.
Global package & label printing market by process, 2019-2029 ($ million)
Source: The Future of Package Printing to 2029, Smithers
Flexible packaging is the largest end-use segment in both volume and value terms and represents 80.3% of the total volume and 59.8% of the value in 2024. The gravure-printed flexible packaging segment is worth $33.3 billion in 2024 and is forecast to grow by 4.0% CAGR to $40.6 billion by 2029.
There are many new opportunities for gravure on the horizon, including continued growth in Asia packaging where gravure dominates, innovations in water-based inks and coatings, growth in new applications such as industrial functional print. Smithers printing expert Jon Harper Smith is presenting at International Gravure Days 2025 in Istanbul, and will be sharing data-led insights on new opportunities for gravure printing in the global market.
Smithers is the worldwide authority for the Print, Paper and Packaging Industries, and we publish market reports and offer custom market research for companies looking to get accurate, credible data.
