Reston, VA, United States and Frankfurt, Germany - NPES The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies and VDMA, the Mechanical Engineering Industry Association of Germany (Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau) announce the release of the joint comprehensive study, "Worldwide Market for Print 2.0: Global Opportunities in Packaging." A team of consultants from The Economist Intelligence Unit, the business information arm of The Economist Group and world's leading provider of country intelligence, worked closely with a joint task force of NPES and VDMA member companies to conduct the most comprehensive research and analysis to date on the global print packaging market for this first ever co-produced study by NPES and VDMA.

According to the new study, total world packaging revenues grew from $231 billion ($U.S.) in 2011 to $242 billion in 2015, and between 2015 and 2020 print packaging global revenues are projected to grow by 18% or $44 billion to $286 billion in 2020. Notably in 2015, 78% of total global print packaging revenues was concentrated in the top five markets comprised of the U.S., China, Japan, Germany and the U.K., however, the largest share and fastest pace of future growth will be recognized in emerging nations, primarily in the Asia-Pacific region.

The accelerated growth of emerging markets remains the dominant trend and driving force behind the print packaging industry outlook, due to rising middle classes, and fast growing incomes and urbanization. Regionally, Asia-Pacific is the largest market projected to grow to $130 billion by 2020, compared to N. America projected to reach $90 billion and western Europe forecast to reach $52 billion.

All subcategories of print packaging will grow at rates of 3-5% CAGR, with corrugated print packaging enjoying the highest share of the global packaging market at $101 billion in 2020, though demonstrating the slowest rate of growth at 3.5% in 2016-2020. Flexible print packaging will be the fastest growing segment at 5.7% average annual pace to post revenues of $73 billion in 2020. Specific country markets across developed and emerging economies will experience varying rates of growth, in all subcategories, to also include folding cartons, labels and tags, and other segments such as direct print on metal and rigid plastics.

NPES President Thayer Long stated that, "We are tremendously pleased over the partnership forged with VDMA to further expand the "Worldwide Market for Print" study series in 2016, and, to concentrate on the global growth potential existing in all packaging categories, for the mutual benefit of our respective members. We look forward to expanding our research relationship with VDMA in the 2017 Phase Two of the WWMP 2.0 series to provide significantly more research findings and keen insights for our members to leverage market opportunities worldwide in the publishing, and, marketing and commercial print segments."

"The joint work for the study," stated Dr. Markus Heering, Managing Director of VDMA Printing and Paper Technology, "was a great opportunity to intensify the cooperation of NPES and VDMA. The results of the study are a real benefit for our members. We look forward to continuing the cooperation in the years to come. I am convinced it will create great advantages for our industries."

In 2013 NPES published the landmark "World-wide Market for Print: Identifying Global Opportunities for the Print Industry" (WWMP) study, which framed an understanding of the size of the global print and imaging industry. Acknowledging the significance of this world view and continuing the WWMP study series, NPES and VDMA forged a unique new partnership resulting in Phase One of the new WWMP 2.0 study series in 2016 that examined global print packaging markets within 26 countries across the globe that combined represent 80% of global GDP and 70% of the world's population.

This 2016 research study evaluated key country demographics, investigated global and regional packaging industry trends, sized the historical print packaging industry from 2011–2015, and provided an analytical view forward through 2020 complete with recommendations for NPES and VDMA members to leverage worldwide business opportunities. In 2017, the co-sponsors will execute Phase Two of the WWMP 2.0 series with a similar multi-country methodology to explore the global publishing, and commercial and marketing segments.

The new "Worldwide Market for Print 2.0: Global Opportunities in Packaging"study, available exclusively to NPES and VDMA members, is comprised of the comprehensive, in-depth analytical report for the overall global print packaging market featuring: trends within print packaging segments; key drivers of change; deep dives into six key country markets (U.S., Germany, China, India, Mexico and Indonesia); regional and 26-country profiles; plus, specific market recommendations and opportunities. Further, an equally impressive resource provided in tandem with the extensive report is a proprietary, user-friendly Excel dashboard, that offers: historical estimates for all countries and regions (2011-2015); forecasts (2016-2020); key macroeconomic and demographic indicators; interactive heat maps; and, the extremely dynamic functionality to prepare multi-variable comparative charts and tables. These resources will be embargoed from sale for six months to permit business and market advantages solely to NPES and VDMA members. 

For more information about the "Worldwide Market for Print 2.0: Global Opportunities in Packaging" study contact: NPES: Rekha Ratnam at phone: (in U.S.) +1-703-264-7200, or e-mail: [email protected]. Or (in Germany), VDMA: Jessica Göres at: +49-696603-1450, or e-mail: [email protected]. Or visit, www.npes.org or dup.vdma.org.