The global inkjet market is forecast to reach 177.3 billion USD by 2031, according to new research from Smithers, with the graphic and packaging segment growing from 101.1 billion USD in 2026 to 134.6 billion USD and the industrial and functional segment rising from 29.2 billion USD to 42.7 billion USD over the same period. Asia Pacific is identified as the dominant force in global inkjet growth, drawing level with North America in volume by 2026 and overtaking it across all metrics by 2031, driven by China and India as both consumer markets and increasingly competitive producers of inkjet hardware and consumables. Within end-use segments, packaging and labels are posting the highest growth rates, fueled by e-commerce, population growth and demand for short-run personalized print. Books and labels are among the fastest-growing applications, while advertising print and transactional output continue to decline. The 9.9 billion USD ink market is being reshaped by sustainability pressures, with water-based formulations gaining ground across textile, corrugated, commercial print and packaging as food-contact migration regulations and recyclability requirements accelerate the shift away from solvent-based alternatives. Equipment development is moving toward purpose-optimized presses engineered for specific applications rather than general-purpose platforms, with proprietary printhead technology increasingly central to that strategy. AI and automation are closing the cost gap with analog production through predictive maintenance, in-line inspection and fleet management software, with these capabilities expected to be standard across the installed base by 2031. The Future of Inkjet Printing to 2031 is available from Smithers. Posted date 1 hour 45 minutes ago Short title Global inkjet market to reach 177bn USD Short summary Smithers’ report forecasts Asia Pacific dominance and packaging as the top growth driver. First paragraph Smithers’ report forecasts Asia Pacific dominance and packaging as the top growth driver. Regions Asia-Pacific Europe Middle East North America South & Central America Southeast Asia Africa South Asia Rate Select rating Give it 1/5 Give it 2/5 Give it 3/5 Give it 4/5 Give it 5/5 Cancel rating No votes yet Top story On Article main topic Market trends Redirected Off Moved to features Off Lead image: New batch Off redirected Off