Printing in European Union: Market Size, Businesses & Forecast 2026

The European Union printing industry comprises printing services and related preparation and finishing activities across diverse segments, including packaging, commercial print, and publishing. According to official figures compiled by Intergraf from Eurostat, the EU27 (alongside associated European nations) graphic industry represents approximately 100,000 printing companies with 600,000 employees and a combined turnover of approximately €80 billion as of 2024 (Intergraf Activity Report 2023-2024). While traditional publishing print faces ongoing digital substitution, the industry is transitioning toward digital inkjet technologies and high-value packaging and labeling applications.

Industry snapshot

Key public data points

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What does the Printing in European Union industry cover?

The sector encompasses printing on various media such as paper, plastic, metal, and glass, alongside pre-press, binding, and finishing services. Under the European NACE Rev. 2 classification, these activities are categorized within Division 18. It excludes the upstream manufacture of paper (NACE 17) and the downstream publishing of books and periodicals (NACE 58).

• •NACE Class 18.11 covers the printing of newspapers, while 18.12 covers other commercial, advertising, and packaging printing.
• •NACE Class 18.13 and 18.14 cover essential pre-press, pre-media, bookbinding, and finishing services.
• •The sector increasingly overlaps with packaging converters as paperboard and flexible packaging print output expands.

Who operates in the industry and how is it structured?

The European printing industry is highly fragmented, characterized by a vast majority of micro and small enterprises servicing localized markets. According to trade statistics, approximately 95% of the 100,000 companies in the wider European region employ fewer than 20 people. These operators face severe margin pressures due to rising personnel costs and raw material prices.

• •In 2024, European printing companies operated at an average capacity utilization rate of 76%.
• •Average personnel-related costs per capita increased by approximately 12% in 2024.
• •Export sales account for an average of 24% of total revenue for active exporters, with 93% of these exports remaining within EU markets.

What drives demand in the industry?

Demand is driven by the performance of the consumer goods, advertising, and retail sectors, which dictate packaging and promotional print needs. While digital media alternatives continue to reduce demand for physical newspapers, directories, and corporate catalogs, the demand for printed labels and folding cartons remains resilient. Additionally, the rise of e-commerce has accelerated the demand for customized and high-quality logistics packaging.

• •Digital printing represents the fastest-growing area, driven by a 6.9% revenue increase in inkjet processes in 2024.
• •Flexography has sustained its position as the largest single process, growing by 1.9% in 2024 alongside package and label demand.
• •In 2024, 42% of European printing companies reported an increase in order volumes, compared to 32% reporting decreases.

Who are the notable companies in the industry?

The market features intense price-based competition among localized commercial printers, alongside specialized multinational print groups. In the equipment and machinery space, European manufacturers lead globally, providing advanced offset and digital presses that drive efficiency. The online printing and mass-customization segments are dominated by consolidated, publicly traded entities.

• •Koenig & Bauer AG (Germany) is the world's oldest press manufacturer, specializing in sheetfed, flexo, and high-security printing presses.
• •Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Germany) operates as a major global manufacturer of offset presses and digital print integrations.
• •Cewe Stiftung & Co. KGaA (Germany) is a European market leader in photo printing services, operating 12 high-tech production sites.
• •Cimpress plc (registered in Ireland) is a global leader in web-to-print mass customization, operating prominent European brands like VistaPrint and Saxoprint.

What are the recent trends and outlook?

The industry's outlook is stable to declining in volume, though rising pricing structures have temporarily supported revenue figures. Operators are actively shifting focus to printed packaging and digital printing solutions to offset declines in publishing print runs. Rising energy, paper, and labor costs are driving consolidation and forcing investments in highly automated workflows.

• •93% of surveyed European printing companies successfully implemented price increases in 2024.
• •38% of companies experienced a significant decline in profit margins in 2024 due to high input costs.
• •More than 77% of printing companies reported vacant, unfilled positions in 2024 due to professional labor shortages.

How is the industry regulated?

Printers in the European Union face a stringent regulatory environment focused heavily on environmental sustainability and carbon reporting. Compliance costs are rising due to strict rules surrounding sourcing, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and product lifecycles. Circular economy initiatives are pushing the sector to increase the use of water-based inks and certified recycled materials.

• •The EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR - Regulation EU/2023/1115) strictly mandates due diligence on paper and board supplies.
• •Printers face complex obligations to verify geographic coordinates of wood harvests to prevent forest degradation.
• •Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) requirements have amplified the adoption of carbon-footprint calculation frameworks like Intergraf's CO2 scheme.

Government, statistical and trade sources used for this Claight analysis.

• Intergraf Activity Report 2023-2024 ·
• Intergraf Economic Report 2025 Key Data ·
• Eurostat Database (NACE Rev. 2 Division 18) ·
• Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 on Deforestation-free Products