Printed electronics

Main article: Electronics (global market)

Chronicle

2024: Global Print Electronics Market Size Reaches $14.89 Billion for the Year

In 2024, costs in the global printing electronics market amounted to $14.89 billion. For comparison, a year earlier, the volume of the industry was estimated at $12.56 billion. Thus, an increase of about 19% was recorded. Such data are reflected in a Fortune Business Insights study, the results of which were published on April 8, 2025.

Printing electronics technology provides for the formation of electronic circuits using specialized printing equipment: it allows you to apply special inks on the surface of the substrate - conductive, semiconductor or resistive. As a result, it is possible to create active and passive elements as well as inter-element connections according to the electrical circuit. Various materials can be used as a substrate, including paper, plastic, and even fabric. The technology makes it possible to produce flexible, light and inexpensive electronic devices for a wide range of applications - from RFID tags and flexible displays to sensors and smart packaging.

One of the drivers of the analytics market is called artificial intelligence technologies. AI algorithms simplify and speed up product design: such systems are able to automatically generate various design options and optimize the layout of electronic circuits, while ensuring the required efficiency and functionality. The development of the printing electronics sector is also facilitated by the expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) infrastructure.

In addition, advances in the development of new generation materials have a positive impact on the industry. It is the properties of materials that largely determine the differences between printed and conventional electronics. In particular, printed materials provide advantages such as mechanical flexibility and the ability to be functionally adjusted by chemical modification.

But there are also deterrents. One of them is the high cost of research and development in the relevant area. In addition, printed electronics often involve long test cycles before commercialization. Due to these uncertainties, investors may doubt the appropriateness of financing projects.

From a technological point of view, the market is segmented into screen printing, inkjet printing, etc. The first of these methods occupies the largest share, since it is suitable for the manufacture of electronics on an industrial scale. At the same time, inkjet printing shows the highest growth rates. In terms of the use of printed electronics, analysts distinguish such areas as health care aerospace and defense, automotive and transport, consumer electronics, construction and architecture, retail and packaging, etc. The automotive segment transport and held the largest share in 2023 - approximately 22.4%. From a geographical point of view, the Asia-Pacific region is in the lead, where costs amounted to $4.24 billion at the end of 2023. Globally, the list of leading players includes:

• Molex;
• Agfa-Gevaert Group;
• Quad Industries;
• DuPont de Nemours;
• Nissha;
• Basf;
• NovaCentrix;
• E Ink Holdings;
• Panasonic;
• Enfucell Oy;
• SonoPlot;
• Linepro Controls;
• Almax;
• Caplinq Corporation;
• Merck KGaA;
• Mekoprint;
• Kuen Yuh Machinery Engineering Co.;
• Saralon;
• Cicor Group.

Fortune Business Insights analysts believe that in the future, the CAGR in the printing electronics market will be at the level of 22.4%. As a result, by 2032, costs could increase to $75.05 billion.^[1]

Notes