The global industrial printing market is undergoing accelerated structural change, with a redistribution of uses between screen printing','www.printindustry.news/search/serigraphy');" class="lien-auto-article" href="https://www.printindustry.news/search/serigraphy">screen printing and inkjet. According to The Future of Screen vs Digital Printing to 2030 according to the Smithers report, these two technologies will together account for $81.7 billion in 2025, or 58.8% of the industrial printing market's total value and 75.1% of its volumes.
Silk-screen printing gains strength in niche segments
Despite the decline of screen printing','www.printindustry.news/search/serigraphy');" class="lien-auto-article" href="https://www.printindustry.news/search/serigraphy">screen printing in the traditional communication, label and packaging sectors, the technology remains strategic for many functional applications. Textiles, printed electronics and even direct printing on promotional objects continue to rely on its ability to precisely deposit complex fluids, the firm points out.
According to Smithers projections, screen printing','www.printindustry.news/search/serigraphy');" class="lien-auto-article" href="https://www.printindustry.news/search/serigraphy">screen printing will grow from $63.8 billion in 2025 to $79.3 billion in 2030, with an average annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.4%. In the functional and industrial segment alone, it will grow at an even faster rate of 5.5% per year.
According to Sean Walsh, Business Development Director at Smithers Information, screen printing','www.printindustry.news/search/serigraphy');" class="lien-auto-article" href="https://www.printindustry.news/search/serigraphy">screen printing is a mature but still relevant process, still preferred for the application of opaque coatings, special inks or high-viscosity fluids. In particular, it retains a residual presence in packaging, for surface effects, and continues to evolve thanks to the development of digital exposure systems, which are more productive and less dependent on operator know-how.
Industrial inkjet takes off
At the same time, digital printing - particularly inkjet - is strengthening its positions in all markets, including those historically reserved for analog. The global value of digital printing, across all segments for both conventional and industrial applications, is set to rise from $194.3 billion in 2025 (including 14% for functional and industrial printing) to $244.6 billion in 2030, representing a CAGR of 4.7%.
In functional applications, inkjet is already dominant for ceramic tiles, and is beginning to replace screen printing','www.printindustry.news/search/serigraphy');" class="lien-auto-article" href="https://www.printindustry.news/search/serigraphy">screen printing in direct-to-textile (DTG) printing.
Smithers also notes strong growth in printheads capable of spraying a wide variety of fluids, paving the way for new uses: printing components for electric vehicle batteries, biomedical applications or on-board electronics.
These markets are described as the most dynamic by 2030.
Packaging and labels: still buoyant segments
As for more conventional applications, digital technology also continues to grow. By 2025, these segments will together account for $166.9 billion. Smithers anticipates average annual growth of 4.2%, reaching 204.8 billion in 2030. Packaging will see the strongest growth, ahead of labels, while graphic printing will slow down.
The sector as a whole is being driven by investments by press manufacturers in automation, lower cost of ownership, improved output and higher throughput.
