Flexo and gravure worth 358.5bn USD

The latest report by Smithers has revealed that the combined market value of flexographic and gravure printing will reach 358.5 billion USD in 2026, with flexo accounting for 250.7 billion USD and gravure 107.8 billion USD.

Published in The Future of Flexo vs Gravure to 2030, the data forecasts flexo growing at a 3.2 percent CAGR to reach 284.2 billion USD by 2030, while gravure is projected to grow at a faster 3.6 percent CAGR to reach 124.7 billion USD over the same period.

Despite flexo continuing to win market share wherever it competes directly with gravure, gravure is growing faster in overall global volume, driven by its dominance in rapidly expanding Asian packaging markets and industrial print sectors. In Asia, gravure has historically been the preferred process for its reproduction of fine Kanji characters, though this advantage is narrowing as flexo quality improves.

Flexo holds advantages in prepress flexibility and sustainability, with modern presses increasingly incorporating machine learning, robotics and AI-driven automation to reduce waste and accelerate makeready. The transition from solvent-based to water-based and UV-curable inks is also strengthening flexo's position against tightening environmental regulations.

Gravure retains its standing as the highest-quality print process and continues to dominate in printed electronics and décor printing, where color fidelity across reprints is critical. However, the process faces growing challenges from cylinder preparation costs, the use of hazardous hexavalent chromium in plating and limited agility as brands demand faster turnaround and shorter runs. Publication rotogravure is in terminal decline as magazine and catalog print runs shrink.

According to the report, both technologies face increasing pressure from digital and hybrid inkjet in labels and flexible packaging.