Market Scope

Market Research Future (MRFR) expects the ink solvent market size to expand at a considerable rate between 2021 and 2028 (assessment period).

Prominent Boosters and Challenges

The ink solvent industry relies primarily on the packaging industry and its growth. Therefore, the rapid surge in the packaging sector worldwide has been quite favorable for the ink solvent market size; owing to its extensive applications as well as its high resistance to adverse weather conditions. Ink solvents are widely used on packages of several types. Moreover, the market for bio-based printing inks has been scaling new heights due to their ecofriendly nature and the lack of any toxic substances. Currently, majority of bio-based printing ink solvents are developed from sugars, rice bran oil, polysaccharides and dextrin, and can note robust demand in the next several years.

Ink solvents offer a host of appealing benefits, including high solvency, solvent stability, good flow, phenomenal gloss, dilutability, and also provide significant surface appearance as well as ink performance. These properties continue to enhance its demand in different applications across the globe. The rapid increase in textile printing and advertising media applications should present lucrative opportunities to the leading players in the global market.  

Rampant demand for versatile, fast-drying and durable inks for commercial publications, printing, corrugated cardboards, consumer-specific needs and packaging will act as major growth boosters in the years ahead. Also, the growing requirement for high function eco-friendly inks within the printing sector should ensure consistent growth of the ink solvents industry over the forthcoming period.

Segmentation Insight

Ink solvent industry has been segregated with respect to chemistry type, product type, process, and application.

In terms of chemistry type, the key categories are acetates, hydrocarbons and alcohols.

The major product types considered in the report include green & bio-based and conventional. The green and bio-based product segment is in the lead, given the significant demand for cost-effective and low emission inks among textile and packaging manufacturers. Moreover, the imposition of strict government standards that pertain to environment conservation will enhance the demand for these types of ink solvents.

The processes listed in the market study are gravure and flexographic. The flexographic segment should emerge on the top, owing to the extensive use of printing metallic films, cellophane, plastics and several smooth substrates needed in different types of packaging. It is also ideal for high-quality printing format and wide format printing. The highest demand for flexographic printing can be witnessed in the food packaging segment.

The market applications studied are publication, corrugated, packaging, among others.

Prominent Companies

The affluent companies operating in the market for ink solvent are Ashland (U.S.), Royal Dutch Shell plc (the Netherlands), Celanese Corporation (U.S.), INEOS (U.K.), Arkema S.A. (France), Evonik Industries AG (Germany), BASF SE (Germany), OMNOVA Solutions Inc (U.S.), The Dow Chemical Company (U.S.), Eastman Chemical Company (U.S.), to mention a few.

Regional Status

Ink solvent market has been regionally considered for APAC or Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, MEA or Middle East & Africa and Latin America.

Asia Pacific has taken the lead with the biggest share in the global industry, thanks to the escalating use of ink solvent in publication, corrugated, packaging, to name a few. Enhanced preference for packaged food among consumers and the surge in research and development activities to produce ink solvents with better features should ensure APAC retains its top position throughout the given period. Japan, India and China are the market leaders in the region, given the rise in digitalization and urbanization that bolsters the demand for ink solvents.

North America will procure a high position in the global market as well, in view of the frequent mergers & acquisitions and partnerships taking place between ink solvent manufacturers in the region. It is expected that rising spending by major industries, especially the packaging sector in Canada, Mexico and the US will facilitate excellent market growth in the following years.

The European market is set to perform remarkably well in the coming years, largely due to the implementation of strict regulations by the government with respect to bio-based ink solvents for producing transparent and glazed paper. The regional market also gets a boost from the escalating product use in corrugated, publication and packaging segments while the surge in technological innovations will also ensure further revenue generation. Some of the key markets in the region are the U.K, Germany, France and Italy.

The market in Latin America will experience stupendous development over the next few years, given the rise in publications as well as promotion activities in various industries, especially in food & beverage. The market in the region will also be encouraged by the soaring number of research & development activities by the end-use sectors.