The global pigment dispersion market size was valued at USD 23.1 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.3% from 2022 to 2030. The steady growth in the packaging industry, in terms of both food and non-food packaging and printing of labels, is expected to drive the demand for pigment dispersions during the forecast period.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) are the most preferred polymers in the single-service food packaging segment. Factors such as the increasing use of plastic and paper & paperboard materials and the use of various colorants to make attractive packaging are expected to drive the overall pigments demand.
Organic pigments are an alternative to some of the toxic inorganic pigments. However, organic pigments are more expensive and some pigments that exhibit superior properties are limited. Manufacturers are investing in research & development activities to replace metals in the manufacture of red and yellow synthetic pigments in order to produce environment-friendly synthetic pigments.
Titanium dioxide is the most widely used inorganic pigment on account of its non-toxic content, chemical stability, and versatile properties for use in plastic and paper & paperboard food packaging. Zinc oxide is a synthetically produced pigment and is considered to have a lesser toxic effect on humans. Currently, titanium dioxide, iron oxide, and zinc oxide account for the maximum share of the global pigment demand for plastic and paper & paperboard food packaging applications.
The inorganic product segment led the market and accounted for more than 56.5% share of the global revenue in 2021. Inorganic pigment dispersion is derived from inorganic compounds such as chromates, sulfates, and metal oxides by various chemical formulations. Inorganic pigment dispersion is used in various applications, including plastics, paints & coatings, and printing inks, among others.
Inorganic pigment dispersion is generally lighter than organic pigment dispersion; however, in applications demanding higher durability, inorganic pigment dispersion is preferred over organic pigment dispersion. Unlike inorganic pigment dispersion, organic pigment dispersion may fade away when continuously exposed to sunlight.
In addition, inorganic pigment dispersion is more economical than organic pigment dispersion and offers easier dispersion properties on various substrates owing to its smaller particle size as compared with organic pigment dispersion. Titanium dioxide and iron oxide are among the more popular types of inorganic pigment dispersion.
Organic pigments are composed of carbon chains and carbon rings and are transparent owing to their large particle size. The common types of organic pigments include azo pigments, phthalocyanine pigments, lake pigments, and quinacridone pigments. The color strength of organic pigments is very much higher than inorganic pigments; however, the high prices and poor dispersion capabilities are restraining the growth of the organic pigments segment. Organic pigments find application in printing inks, paints & coatings, rubber, and plastics.
The coatings application segment led the market, accounting for more than 39.0% share of the global revenue in 2021. The growing building & construction industry on account of infrastructure development in many economies such as the U.S., China, India, and Saudi Arabia, among others is expected to drive the demand for coatings during the forecast period, thus boosting the growth of the pigment dispersion market in the coming years. With the growing demand for green building construction, organic pigments used in coatings are also anticipated to witness a considerable increase in demand.
Pigment dispersion has widely substituted dyes in printing ink applications as the former provides better coloring to the printing ink, thereby offering the intended result to printing ink manufacturers. Inks that are made from dyes are composed of a colorant that is completely dissolved in a carrier fluid, whereas pigment dispersion-based printing inks consist of fine solid particles that get suspended in the carrier liquid. These inks employ both organic and inorganic pigment dispersions; however, the percentage use of the latter is comparatively high owing to its low price and better dispersion capabilities.
The increasing consumption of plastic in various end-use industries, including construction, automotive, medical devices, and electrical & electronics is expected to drive the demand for pigment dispersion during the forecast period. Plastics are being used in construction applications such as floorings, high-performance safety windows, insulation materials, storage tanks, roofing, pipes, domes/skylights, cables, and doors. A moderate scope for growth is presented by such an evolving market.
Pigment dispersion is used in plastics, mostly with polyolefins, for plastic food packaging and other non-food packaging, in addition to building & construction products, coverings, gutters, sheets, films, and others. Pigment dispersions used in plastic applications involving direct exposure to sunlight are expected to protect it from ultraviolet (UV) radiations, as the radiations could affect the pigment dispersion properties. In packaging, pigment dispersion helps in enhancing the branding by improving the visual design, which often attracts consumers.
Epoxy and polyurethane formulations are used in various floorings that require pigment dispersion to offer decorative and functional colors. Pigment dispersion is used in rubber applications for coloring rubber sheets, tire side walls, and surgery equipment in the medical industry.
Asia Pacific dominated the market and accounted for more than 40.0% share of the global revenue in 2021. The high share is attributable to the availability of raw materials in abundance and the presence of low-cost labor, thus attracting manufacturers from various industries to set up their production facilities in the Asia Pacific region to derive increased benefits. In South Korea, the coatings application segment is expected to contribute a maximum share to the overall pigment dispersion market growth during the forecast period.
The growing infrastructure activities and increased spending from the government on public infrastructure development are anticipated to drive the South Korean market for pigment dispersion. In addition, macroeconomic factors such as low unemployment rate and high disposable income in South Korea are stipulated to propel the demand for pigment dispersions in packaging applications for various end-use industries, such as food & beverage and consumer goods.
Germany contributed the maximum share in the Europe pigment dispersion industry, in terms of both volume and revenue. Growing industrial facilities and supportive macroeconomic situations in several European countries are factors expected to boost the growth of the market for pigment dispersion in the region. Furthermore, the rapidly rising trend of green technology, which can be attributed to strict environmental regulations, is anticipated to favor the growth of organic pigment dispersion in the region.
The demand for pigment dispersion in the U.S. is majorly driven by the increasing number of quick-serve restaurants (QSRs), which use pigment dispersion in food packaging and printing ink applications. The U.S. government has strict regulations for the type of pigment dispersions to be used in food packaging, as many inorganic pigments become toxic after coming in contact with food products.
For instance, according to the FDA, materials that are permissible for use as food colorants are allowed to be used as coloring agents for food packaging and printing inks. However, pigments containing polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and benzopyrene, exceeding 0.5 parts per million and 5.0 parts per million, respectively, are prohibited from application in food packaging.
The global market for pigment dispersion is fragmented in nature and major players are engaged in product development, strategic partnerships, mergers & acquisitions, and joint ventures to vertically integrate across the value chain, reducing the operational cost to have more profit margins. For instance, in March 2019, BASF SE partnered with Landa Labs to introduce its second stir-in pigment eXpand! Blue (EH 6001), sold under the Colors & Effects brand. eXpand! Blue (EH 6001) is used in automotive coatings and outdoor coating applications.
Additionally, in December 2018, Organic Dyes and Pigments acquired Premier Colors, Inc. to expand its business in Providence by catering to the customers of the latter. Premier Colors, Inc., located in South Carolina, U.S., is engaged in the supply of pigment dispersions and specialty chemicals to paper, textile, paints & coatings, and leather end-use industries. The major companies operating in the global pigment dispersion market include
AArbor Colorants Corporation
American Element
Aralon Color GmbH
BASF SE
Clariant Ltd.
Decorative Color & Chemical, Inc.
Ferro Corporation
Flint Group
Heubach GmbH
Kama Pigments
Organic Dyes and Pigments
Reitech Corporation
Sun Chemical
Trust Chem Co., Ltd.
Sudarshan Chemical Industries Limited
Pidilite Industries Ltd.
Aum Farbenchem
DyStar Singapore Pte. Ltd.
Solvay
Altana
Achitex Minerva S.p.A.
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Avient
Habich
Synthesia, a.s.
Report Attribute |
Details |
Market size value in 2022 |
USD 23.9 billion |
Revenue forecast in 2030 |
USD 33.4 billion |
Growth rate |
CAGR of 4.3% from 2022 to 2030 |
Base year for estimation |
2021 |
Historical data |
2019 - 2020 |
Forecast period |
2022 - 2030 |
Quantitative units |
Volume in Kilotons, Revenue in USD Million & CAGR (%) from 2022 to 2030 |
Report coverage |
Volume forecast, revenue forecast, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends |
Segments covered |
Product, application, region |
Regional scope |
North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Central & South America; Middle East & Africa |
Country Scope |
U.S.; Canada; Mexico; Germany; UK; France; Italy; China; India; Japan; South Korea; Brazil; Argentina; GCC Countries; South Africa |
Key companies profiled |
AArbor Colorants Corporation; American Elements; Aralon Color GmbH; BASF SE; Clariant Ltd.; Decorative Color & Chemical, Inc.; Ferro Corporation; Flint Group; Heubach GmbH; Kama Pigments; Organic Dyes and Pigments; Reitech Corporation; Sun Chemical; Trust Chem Co., Ltd.; Sudarshan Chemical Industries Limited; Pidilite Industries Ltd.; Aum Farbenchem; DyStar Singapore Pte. Ltd.; Solvay; Altana; Achitex Minerva S.p.A.; Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG; Avient; Habich; Synthesia, a.s. |
Customization scope |
Free report customization (equivalent up to 8 analysts working days) with purchase. Addition or alteration to country, regional & segment scope. |
Pricing and purchase options |
Avail customized purchase options to meet your exact research needs. Explore purchase options |
This report forecasts revenue and volume growth at global, regional & country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2019 to 2030. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global pigment dispersion market report on the basis of product, application, and region
Product Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2019 - 2030)
Inorganic Pigments
Calcium Carbonate
Titanium Dioxide
Iron Oxide
Carbon and vegetable black
Ultramarine blue
Chrome green
Organic Pigments
Application Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2019 - 2030)
Plastics
Packaging
Plastic Food Packaging
Other Non-Food Packaging
Inks
Coatings
Paper & paper board Coatings
Other Coatings
Others
Rubber
Silicone
LSR
HTV
RTV
EPDM
Polyurethane
Others
Epoxy
Adhesives
Sealants
Phthalate-free PVC Masterbatch
Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2019 - 2030)
North America
U.S.
Canada
Mexico
Europe
Germany
UK
France
Italy
Asia Pacific
China
India
Japan
South Korea
Central & South America
Brazil
Argentina
Middle East & Africa
GCC Countries
South Africa
b. The pigment dispersion market size was estimated at USD 23.1 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 23.9 billion in 2022.
b. The pigment dispersion market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4.3% from 2022 to 2030 to reach USD 33.4 billion by 2030.
b. Asia Pacific dominated the pigment dispersion market with a share of more than 40% in 2021. This is attributable to the rising demand for pigment dispersion in sustainable packing products in the food & beverages, and consumer goods end-use industry.
b. Some of the key players operating in the pigment dispersion market include BASF SE, Clariant, Ferro Corporation, Pidilite Industries Ltd., PolyOne Corporation, Solvay SA, Sudarshan Chemical Industries Limited, and Sun Chemical.
b. Key factors driving the pigment dispersion market growth include increased consumer preference for brightly packaged food products and the growing use of plastic & paperboard materials for food packaging.
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