Global Water Based Gravure Inks Market Strategic Research Report

Scope of the Report

The global Water Based Gravure Inks market size is predicted to grow from US$ 1,606 million in 2025 to US$ 2,142 million in 2032; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.2% from 2026 to 2032.

In 2024, global water based gravure inks production reached approximately 160 K tons, with an average global market price of around US$ 9,222/ton.

Water based gravure ink is one of the most environmentally friendly printing inks available today. It is also suitable for direct food contact and is therefore widely used in areas such as food packaging. Water based gravure ink is a mixture of water based resins, pigments, solvents, and related additives. Gravure printing involves scraping off excess ink from the printing plates. Then, a rubber roller is applied to the substrate between the plates, applying appropriate pressure to squeeze the ink from the concave surface onto the substrate. Water based gravure inks are primarily used in downstream applications such as film, paper and paper board, with a typical gross profit margin of 15%-35%.

Large Market Demand:

Water based gravure inks are widely used in a variety of packaging, including tobacco and alcohol packaging, food packaging, and children's toy packaging. Plastic and paper food packaging in particular enjoy strong downstream demand.

Environmentally Friendly and Safe:

Water based gravure inks primarily consist of water-based resins, pigments, and water. Water based inks are also free of heavy metals and aromatic hydrocarbons, making them a significant environmental advantage. Water based inks contain extremely low levels of VOCs, and during the production process, they do not release large amounts of organic solvents, aromatic hydrocarbons, and other toxic and hazardous substances that could harm workers. During storage, there is no need to worry about solvent evaporation causing fires, explosions, or other serious incidents.

Low Cost:

Compared to solvent based inks, water based inks require approximately 10% less coating weight for printing. For a given printing area, water based ink consumption is 10% lower than for solvent-based inks. Furthermore, water based inks can be diluted with purified water, further reducing printing costs.

This report presents a comprehensive overview of the global Water Based Gravure Inks market, covering market size and forecast, segmentation by product type and application, competitive landscape, leading players and regional and country-level outlook.

Segment by Type

• Surface Printing Inks
• Lamination (Inner Printing) Inks
• Other

Segment by Application

• Film
• Paper and Paper Board
• Other

Who Can Use This Report?

This report is written for decision-makers who need a clear, data-backed view of the global Water Based Gravure Inks market:

• Manufacturers, suppliers and solution providers benchmarking their position and planning product, capacity and go-to-market strategy
• Distributors, channel partners and end users in Film, Paper and Paper Board, Other evaluating demand and sourcing options
• Investors, financial analysts and consultants assessing growth opportunities, competitive dynamics and M&A potential
• Government agencies, industry associations and research institutions tracking industry developments and policy impact