Belgium: Printing Ink Market 2025

Printing Ink Market Size in Belgium

After two years of growth, the Belgian printing ink market decreased by -43% to $X in 2022. In general, consumption showed a noticeable reduction. As a result, consumption attained the peak level of $X. From 2014 to 2022, the growth of the market failed to regain momentum.

Printing Ink Production in Belgium

In value terms, printing ink production reduced rapidly to $X in 2022 estimated in export price. Overall, production recorded a precipitous slump. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2021 with an increase of 8.9% against the previous year. Printing ink production peaked at $X in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2022, production failed to regain momentum.

Printing Ink Exports

Exports from Belgium

In 2022, after two years of growth, there was significant decline in overseas shipments of printing ink, when their volume decreased by -6.1% to X tons. In general, exports saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2020 with an increase of 74% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the exports hit record highs at X tons in 2021, and then fell in the following year.

In value terms, printing ink exports shrank slightly to $X in 2022. Over the period under review, total exports indicated measured growth from 2012 to 2022: its value increased at an average annual rate of +3.0% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, exports increased by +88.7% against 2019 indices. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2020 when exports increased by 86%. Over the period under review, the exports attained the peak figure at $X in 2021, and then contracted modestly in the following year.

Exports by Country

Germany (X tons) was the main destination for printing ink exports from Belgium, accounting for a 27% share of total exports. Moreover, printing ink exports to Germany exceeded the volume sent to the second major destination, the Netherlands (X tons), threefold. The third position in this ranking was held by the UK (X tons), with an 8.1% share.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual rate of growth in terms of volume to Germany was relatively modest. Exports to the other major destinations recorded the following average annual rates of exports growth: the Netherlands (-3.9% per year) and the UK (+1.5% per year).

In value terms, Germany ($X), France ($X) and the UK ($X) constituted the largest markets for printing ink exported from Belgium worldwide, with a combined 34% share of total exports. The Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Brazil, Italy, Turkey, the Czech Republic, Austria, Egypt and Russia lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 35%.

Among the main countries of destination, Brazil, with a CAGR of +58.3%, saw the highest growth rate of the value of exports, over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Export Prices by Country

In 2022, the average printing ink export price amounted to $X per ton, increasing by 3.7% against the previous year. Over the period from 2012 to 2022, it increased at an average annual rate of +3.5%. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2017 when the average export price increased by 23%. Over the period under review, the average export prices reached the maximum at $X per ton in 2018; however, from 2019 to 2022, the export prices remained at a lower figure.

Prices varied noticeably by country of destination: amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was Russia ($X per ton), while the average price for exports to Egypt ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for supplies to Russia (+14.9%), while the prices for the other major destinations experienced more modest paces of growth.

Printing Ink Imports

Imports into Belgium

After two years of growth, purchases abroad of printing ink decreased by -11.6% to X tons in 2022. In general, total imports indicated prominent growth from 2012 to 2022: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +5.9% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, imports increased by +85.0% against 2019 indices. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2020 with an increase of 58% against the previous year. Imports peaked at X tons in 2021, and then dropped in the following year.

In value terms, printing ink imports fell markedly to $X in 2022. Overall, total imports indicated a mild expansion from 2012 to 2022: its value increased at an average annual rate of +1.7% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2020 when imports increased by 73%. Over the period under review, imports attained the peak figure at $X in 2021, and then dropped sharply in the following year.

Imports by Country

In 2022, the Netherlands (X tons) constituted the largest printing ink supplier to Belgium, accounting for a 50% share of total imports. Moreover, printing ink imports from the Netherlands exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest supplier, Germany (X tons), twofold. The third position in this ranking was taken by Spain (X tons), with a 9.2% share.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual rate of growth in terms of volume from the Netherlands totaled +10.2%. The remaining supplying countries recorded the following average annual rates of imports growth: Germany (+3.6% per year) and Spain (+33.8% per year).

In value terms, Germany ($X), the Netherlands ($X) and Spain ($X) were the largest printing ink suppliers to Belgium, together accounting for 74% of total imports.

Spain, with a CAGR of +36.2%, saw the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of imports, among the main suppliers over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices by Country

The average printing ink import price stood at $X per ton in 2022, dropping by -12.3% against the previous year. In general, the import price recorded a noticeable setback. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2020 when the average import price increased by 9.4% against the previous year. The import price peaked at $X per ton in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2022, import prices stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Prices varied noticeably by country of origin: amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was Spain ($X per ton), while the price for the Netherlands ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by France (+4.0%), while the prices for the other major suppliers experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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