Print Label Market Trends

Print Label Market Drivers

Unprecedented Growth of E-commerce and Logistics Industry

• E-commerce is seeing a significant boom across the world. With it comes the increase in the demand for printed shipping and tracking labels. Products ordered online have labels with barcodes, QR codes, and RFID tags, etc. which are important for managing inventory and for product traceability in logistics. Thus, as e-retail is expanding globally and people are ordering products online, especially in emerging markets like India, Brazil, and Southeast Asia, the need for print labels is also experiencing growth.

Expansion of Private Label Products

• International Shopper Survey of 2024 revealed that more than half of consumers prefer private labels, with Spain being the hub where these kinds of products are bought the most. Retail brands like Walmart, Tesco, etc., are expanding their private label products. This creates a demand for flexible and cost-effective print labels as these products would require labels that would reflect the retailer's brand architecture. Thus, this growing share of store brands is ultimately leading to high-volume demand for printed labeling solutions.

Print Label Market Restraints

High Initial Investments for Technology Upgrades

• Modern printing technologies, such as digital, flexographic, and hybrid presses, are costly and require high capital investment. Although these solutions provide better performance and faster turnarounds, for a small or mid-sized label company upgrading to these systems can be financially prohibitive. This cost barrier limits their ability to compete with large players and restricts growth across the market.

Huge Waste Generation During Label Printing

• Label printing operations can lead to huge waste generation in the form of liner backing, matrix scrap, and setup materials, etc. This waste can increase costs and expenses, deplete resources, and impact the overall global environment. Consumption of excess materials, ink, and energy can adversely affect the company’s revenue and the earth’s environment. With sustainability expectations getting higher with the passing of time, companies face pressure to reduce environmental impact. This creates resistance among brands against expanding labels.