Smithers market report forecasts double-digit growth foe dye sub market by 2029

The dye sublimation inkjet textile printing market is set for a rapid acceleration in growth according to a new report from Smithers, the global authority on the print industry. New demand in garments, household furnishings, and technical textiles will generate sales of $11.8 billion in 2025. Data from the new Smithers market report – The Future of Dye Sublimation to 2029 – project a global output of 2.0 billion square metres (sqm) of fabric and 73.6 million sqm of rigid media in 2025. This marks the beginning of a significant upswing in demand for dye sub printed products. Global dye sub sales grew only marginally across 2019-2023. Demand for all end-use products fell significantly in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic, with the display sector hit particularly hard.

Smithers analysis forecasts volume demand will increase by 7.9 percent CAGR across the next five years, taking annual output to 2.9 billion sqm in 2029. Value growth at 6.6 percent CAGR will see the market reach $15.2 billion, at constant pricing, across the same period. The five main segments for dye sub printing are garments, household, technical textiles, displays, and rigids. Garments (apparel) is by far the largest segment, 71.9 percent of contemporary volume. In soft signage, dye sub is benefiting from the emerging preference for silicone edge graphics (SEGs) in displays, light boxes, and general signage. SEGs are low cost and easy to install, while the use of dye sublimation printing provides highly saturated, vibrant images.