By Eirini Louizou, Head of Production & Industrial Printing Market Intelligence Services
The global Production Digital Printing market in unit sales showed signs of slowdown in the first half of 2025, primarily driven by weaker results in the Americas and APAC regions. By contrast, the EMEA market demonstrated resilience, with brand-new installations remaining at levels comparable to H1 2024. Despite the recent decline, the Americas continue to account for the largest share of global unit sales at 42%. Meanwhile, EMEA increased its share of unit sales by two percentage points compared to the same period last year. The major players in the global production digital printing market include Canon, Ricoh, Konica Minolta, Xerox, Fujifilm, and Hewlett-Packard, together accounting for more than 75% of global revenue. Alongside them, other manufacturers such as Screen, EFI, Landa, Durst, Hanglobal, Flora, Bobst, Miyakoshi, and Pulisi are strengthening their presence, often focusing on niche segments and specialised applications.
Applications: Growth Beyond the Graphic/Commercial applications
The Graphic/Commercial segment continues to account for the vast majority of installations, where Color devices account for 63% of total unit sales, and BW for the remaining 37%. However, a noticeable increase is being detected in Corrugated Packaging and Flexible Packaging, reflecting shifting industry needs and customer demand. Analysing further for H1 2025, the countries absorbing more than 50% of the global installations in Packaging are the United States, South Korea, Japan and China.
From a technology perspective, laser technology continues to dominate the production digital printing industry, valued for its reliability and broad adoption across applications. In unit sales, it accounts for more than 85% of the global market, while in revenue its share stands at nearly 60%. Inkjet production devices, meanwhile, contribute around 26% of total revenue, underscoring their premium positioning despite a comparatively smaller installed base.
Feed Type: Mixed Trends in Continuous Feed
In terms of feed type, Continuous Feed devices present a more nuanced picture:
- BW Continuous Feed systems are experiencing moderate growth on a global scale, with most important markets being China and Japan, accounting for almost 50% of total unit sales in H1 2025.
- The Color Continuous Feed segment shows ongoing fluctuations, consistent with the cyclical patterns historically observed in this market. In terms of countries, the United States and China have the biggest absorption, accounting together for 34.7% of global unit sales in H1 2025.
Transformative Key Trends Driving the Next Phase of Digital Printing
Through continuous monitoring of the market, in-depth studies over many years, and direct engagement with leading vendors, Infosource has identified several structural shifts that are shaping the future of the production digital printing industry.
- Customisation & Personalisation: Rising demand for tailored outputs as brands and consumers increasingly value unique, differentiated communication.
- Short-Run Printing: The shift toward smaller batches enables faster, more flexible production cycles, quicker time-to-market, reducing cost and inventory.
- Sustainability & Eco-Friendly Practices: Greater emphasis on energy efficiency, reduced waste, and environmentally responsible solutions.
- Technology Migration: A clear and ongoing move from offset to digital printing, with digital gaining share as it proves its value in cost efficiency, adaptability, and quality output.
- High-Speed Inkjet: Inkjet production printers are spearheading this migration, offering personalisation at scale, improved print quality (often approaching offset standards), and cost-effective just-in-time manufacturing.
- Automation & Smart Processes: Growing integration of AI, workflow automation, and smart production systems that streamline operations and increase productivity.
- Digital Transformation: Printers are no longer just output devices but part of a wider digital ecosystem, enabling connectivity with cloud-based platforms that modernise operations, offer end-to-end digital solutions, and smarter customer interaction.
- Hybrid Printing Solutions: Increasing adoption of hybrid systems that combine offset and digital technologies, allowing printers to balance high-volume runs with the flexibility of digital.
- Printhead Advancements: Ongoing innovation in printhead technology is improving speed, durability, and precision, further enhancing the capabilities of next-generation printing systems.
Together, these trends—both external influences and internal market dynamics—illustrate how the production digital printing industry is not only evolving, but also redefining its role within the broader manufacturing and communications ecosystem.
Final Thoughts
The first half of 2025 highlights both the challenges and the opportunities within the production digital printing industry. While certain regions and segments have shown signs of slowdown, the market is simultaneously evolving through innovation, new applications, and transformative technologies.
At Infosource, we are committed to helping industry leaders navigate these changes with clarity and confidence. Through our market intelligence, consulting services, and long-standing expertise, we provide the insights needed to anticipate shifts, identify opportunities, and drive growth.
