GCC Digital Printing - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2024 - 2029)

The GCC Digital Printing Market size is estimated at USD 0.75 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 1.16 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 9.20% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

Key Highlights

• Technological advancements and the demand for creative packaging, driven by intense competition and brand awareness, are expected to aid the growth of the GCC digital printing market. The growing demand for innovative packaging from end-user segments, like food, beverage, and cosmetics, is expected to drive the market's expansion.
• The growth of the market is also augmented by the rapid rise of digital print technology, which has made the label printing market more sophisticated and increased the adoption of digital print labels. The major growth features of digital print labels are their flexibility, versatility, and high graphics standards. The flexographic method allows printing on metallic films, plastics, cellophane, paper, and corrugated surfaces.
• Significant improvements in print manufacturing efficiency, with just-in-time production and increased focus on supply chain management, such as superior demand forecasting, have reduced wastage in the packaging printing market. Technological developments aiding digital printing have ensured waste minimization, keeping the print quality at par. In addition, developments in the packaging printing industry, demand for aesthetics, product differentiation, and technological advancements are fueling the demand for the digitally printed packaging market in the GCC region.
• However, the R&D expenses and the significant initial investment required to install production and printing equipment are creating challenges for new players in the market. Setting up a factory or purchasing a printing press requires higher investments, making the cost of printing high for small quantities of production.
• The COVID-19 pandemic increased the priority of research and development in the packaging industry, in line with the increasing demand for packaged retail goods. Packaging technologists put in even more effort to develop solutions for a consumer market. Furthermore, digital printing for packaging and the digitalization of the packaging printing value chain accelerated during the pandemic, which fueled the market's growth in the GCC region even after the pandemic ended.

GCC Digital Printing Market Trends

Labels to Witness Significant Growth

• Digital labels are pressure-sensitive and made using advanced digital printing technology, allowing brands to improve their label quality at reduced costs. They provide many benefits over other labels, including high resolution, even for tiny details and small print, photographic-quality imagery, and rapid turnarounds on print orders, which reduce cost per unit for short-to-medium-size runs.
• Digital label printing offers design flexibility and substantial cost savings in production. By utilizing digital software, businesses can bypass the expenses and time associated with traditional printing plates. Moreover, this technology facilitates easy and cost-effective alterations to label designs. Such adaptability is particularly beneficial for prototypes or short runs, allowing customers to refine their labels as their products progress. It is advantageous for creating promotional labels for seasonal events or holidays, as it enables clients to produce labels in any volume without the upfront costs of conventional printing, supporting its growth in the GCC market.
• The labels can be produced on unique substrates, like metalized papers or transparent PP, and are used for glass bottles, jars, and plastic (PET, HDPE) containers. They offer certain features, such as low production costs due to a 30-50% reduction in glue usage and less labeling waste, excellent tensile strength, and stiffness for minimal curling, tearing, flagging and folding, stiffness, and moisture absorbent, among others.
• The increasing R&D initiatives by the players in the industry have enabled them to produce papers that have high endurance and resist disintegration. Through digital label printing's variable data capabilities, businesses can create unique labels that feature texts and images, supporting their growth in line with the development of non-oil-based economies and the growth of the hospitality sector in the GCC region.
• The need for packing supplies and labels to transport goods to clients is growing as e-commerce develops more. Digital printing technology makes it possible to print package materials in a flexible and customized manner, giving businesses the ability to produce distinctive and distinctive packaging. The packaging industry may see an increase in demand for digital printing solutions due to the expansion of e-commerce sales.

Saudi Arabia to Witness Significant Growth

• Saudi Arabia has been registering significant growth in packaging product manufacturing, supporting the growth of the market studied. For instance, in April 2024, Al-Shamrani, a leading producer of poly'thylene-bas'd (PE) flexible packaging for the Saudi market, modernized its production and increased its capacity. Al-Shamrani has invested in a new BOBST VISION CI flexo press, which is anticipated to create a growth opportunity for the country's digital printing solutions due to their application in making flexible packaging more economical and customizable for end-user applications.
• Labelexpo Global Series announced the launch of Gulf Print & Pack in Saudi Arabia, taking place from 21-23 January 2025 at the Riyadh Front Exhibition Conference Center (RFECC). The new show would include the latest commercial and package printing technology and the country's packaging equipment and materials, which is expected to support awareness and create business opportunities for market vendors.
• Digital label printing offers extensive customization, empowering industries across the board to craft packaging that resonates with their brand. In sectors such as fragrances, the ability to emboss intricate details directly onto glass bottles has surged in popularity, which is in line with the growth of the fragrance industry in the country due to the culture and consumption priority.
• The demand for creative packaging solutions is projected to increase as the beverage sector grows. The design and customization options provided by inkjet digital printing technology allow producers to produce distinctive and eye-catching beverage packaging, which would support the country's market growth in line with its future food and beverage production growth.
• In May 2024, a Kinza Drinks official stated that consumers in Saudi Arabia are moving away from traditional staple soda drinks toward locally produced, high-quality alternatives. This would support beverage packaging in the country and create an opportunity for digital printing solutions on packaged beverages in the country during the forecast period.

GCC Digital Printing Industry Overview

The market is fragmented with the presence of many market vendors, including Mondi PLC, Huhtamaki Oyj, Amcor PLC, Sealed Air Corporation, DS Smith PLC, and others. Mergers and acquisitions among vendors are occurring in the region, creating profitable business prospects and accelerating market expansion and technical improvement. Some of the major companies' investments in innovative printing industry technologies and solutions are anticipated to increase investment in the market.

• June 2024: Huhtamaki Oyj decided to consolidate its three flexible packaging manufacturing sites in the United Arab Emirates, keeping one factory in Jebel Ali and expanding the one in Ras Al Khaimah. The consolidation aims to optimize the manufacturing footprint and improve competitiveness, which would support the growth of the company's digital printing business by offering flexible digital packaging solutions in the market.
• May 2024: Amcor PLC expanded its packaging innovation hubs around the world. The company opened its Amcor Innovation Center, which would perform research and development in new material technologies to make packaging more sustainable while focusing on designs. This shows the company's priority on research and development and would support the advancement of the company's digital printing solutions to be competitive in the market studied.

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support