Digital printing is growing rapidly driven by the substitution of analogue processes as well as the commercialisation of new opportunities using digital printing technologies. A new market report from Smithers, The Future of Screen vs Digital Printing to 2030, identifies that the global print market increased in value from $904.0 billion in 2020 to $1.0 trillion in 2025 with the associated volume increasing from 1.9 trillion square meters to 2.0 trillion square meters. This represents growth of 2.8% CAGR in value and 1.0% CAGR in volume for these five years. 

Technological and sustainable advances propel digital printing 

Digital printing has an 18.6% share of the overall graphic and package/label printing market by value in 2025, according to the new Smithers research. In the functional and industrial sector, screen printing grew by 9.6% CAGR in value between 2020 and 2025.

The growth comes on the back of a low point in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic with recovery following after the period. Growth is also offset by world events including the war in Ukraine, energy-based inflation, conflict in the Middle East and weak consumer and business confidence between 2022 and 2024.These market dynamics have reduced demand for a range of products with non-essential items and their packaging most affected.

Screen printing landscape

Screen and digital printing represent two technological extremes: the former a comparatively simple, though versatile, process that is mature; while digital printing is fast growing and the subject of extensive technological development and innovation designed to broaden its application reach.  

The landscape for screen printing has evolved and high-volume businesses in point of sale, signage, packaging and ceramic printing have seen strong competition from digital printing. As such, screen printing has become a niche process in areas that it once dominated. Screen printing is growing in the industrial and functional printing sectors where its versatility and ability to accurately deposit precisely controlled volumes of complex fluids make it the preferred printing method for many applications in this sector.

Sustainability

Sustainability is a major driver for the screen and digital printing market as it is for the entire printing sector. Sustainability has been growing in importance, driven by increasing consumer awareness, concern among leading brands and increasing government legislation. Several industrial and manufacturing sectors are also focusing their attention on achieving carbon neutrality, including their use of printing.

The Future of Screen vs Digital Printing to 2030 highlights advances in both screen and digital printing technology covering hardware, consumables and software. It compares screen and digital printing over the period 2020–30, with analysis of the key market trends affecting supply and demand and reviews how print production and technology supply chains are responding to these trends.