Additives play a crucial role in ink formulation. Depending on the additive type, the additive imparts specific characteristics to the final formulation, whether they are dispersants, waxes, surfactants, rheology modifiers and many more. It is also a large market in terms of sales: according to MarketsandMarkets, ink additives segment sales were expected to be $2.4 billion in 2024, growing to $2.9 billion by 2029. 

Additive industry leaders say that the ink market enjoyed growth during 2025. Keith Condon, director of national sales for Gehring-Montgomery, says that the ink additives market saw steady growth from 2024 to 2025. 

“In 2024, it was valued at about $2.32 billion, and by 2025, it’s projected to reach around $2.54 billion, reflecting a growth of roughly 5.1%,” says Condon. “This growth is driven by rising demand in the packaging industry, which holds a significant share, as well as technological advancements like digital printing and eco-friendly formulations. There’s a strong emphasis on sustainability, which is shaping the development of new ink additives. Overall, the market is on a positive trajectory.” 

“Like much of the ink industry, the ink additive market was quite strong in the first half of 2025 but showed some weakening in the second half of the year,” Susanne Struck, global market segment head – printing inks, Coating Additives Business Line for Evonik, says.

“We continued to see slow, stable growth in our ink additives portfolio, which aligns with overall ink industry trends,” John Kwasneski, MÜNZING’s sales director – coatings, construction and adhesives, reports. “Regulatory concerns continued to be the main driver of change, and our product line was specifically formulated to address these necessary compliance needs.”

Micro Powders VP Rich Czarnecki notes that Micro Powders’ business with printing inks and coatings has continued on a strong upward trajectory. 

“Growth has been especially notable in high-performance and specialty applications, where formulators require additives that deliver robust functionality while meeting increasingly complex regulatory demands,” Czarnecki observes. “Food packaging, in particular, has been a standout segment. Because this market requires materials with exceptional safety profiles, low migration, and reliable performance, our technology portfolio aligns exceptionally well with its needs. As packaging designs evolve and consumer brands seek higher durability and improved appearance, we’ve seen sustained demand for our premium additive solutions.”

Robert Ruckle, global marketing and sales director, Siltech Corporation, notes that like the entire chemical industry, sales were off considerably. “Cost and tariff considerations have become much more important criteria than in 2024,” Ruckle adds.

Alex Radu, technical service manager at Shamrock Technologies, notes that the ink additive market faced significant headwinds in 2025 as global supply chain disruptions made forecasting both costs and availability of imported raw materials increasingly complex. 

“Rising freight expenses, shipping delays, and geopolitical uncertainty added pressure across the industry,” Radu adds. For US producers in particular, fluctuating tariffs created sharp pricing swings compared to other regions, amplifying volatility and forcing companies to adjust strategies more frequently than in prior years.”

Sustainability and Ink Additives

Sustainability is a major topic for the ink industry, and additive selection plays a significant part in formulations. Kwasneski says that ink industry continues to prioritize new, cost-sensitive raw materials that offer biodegradability and renewability.

Tyler John, senior technical support for Gehring-Montgomery, says that sustainability is more important now than ever, given the current geopolitical climate surrounding topics like tariffs. 

“Manufacturers are faced with creating a product that not only serves its intended function but also properly navigates this climate, stabilizing the supply chain and ensuring profit,” John notes. “On top of that, they have to consider public perception as it pertains to regulations and social health, maintaining confidence in their product during a tumultuous time in the market.” 

Struck says that sustainability is a key issue for all global ink manufacturers and for many raw material suppliers, including Evonik. 

“In order to support flexible packaging waste mandates and enable true circularity, Evonik recently launched a new co-binder called TEGO Res 1100 for use in solventborne inks,” says Struck. “TEGO Res 1100 helps to accelerate de-inking times, even at low temperatures, and to improve recyclate quality.” 

“Sustainability continues to accelerate as a priority across all segments of the graphic arts and packaging markets,” Czarnecki says. “Printers and brand owners are seeking renewable, naturally derived materials that reduce environmental impact without sacrificing performance. Our NatureTex series directly addresses this need. These additives are made from renewable feedstocks and provide key functional benefits including lubricity, slip, and enhanced scratch and abrasion resistance, while supporting more sustainable formulation strategies. They allow customers to replace fossil-derived materials with bio-based alternatives and move closer to the sustainability commitments demanded by global brands and regulators.”

Raw Material Considerations

One important consideration is that certain raw materials are being phased out, such as PTFE and chemicals that are considered to be PFAS. Additive manufacturers are helping customers meet these new standards. John Jilek Jr., president of inksolutions, says that ink manufacturers are focusing on regulatory requirements when selecting additives.

“We have worked on finished product to imitate older formulas containing PTFE,” adds Jilek.

Czarnecki says that the global regulatory landscape surrounding PFAS is evolving rapidly, leading many formulators to proactively remove PTFE-based additives from their systems. 

“In anticipation of this shift and to support industry compliance, Micro Powders will fully discontinue all PTFE-containing products by the end of 2025,” he notes.

“Fortunately, we have spent years developing the industry’s largest and most successful portfolio of PTFE-free wax additives,” Czarnecki adds. “These materials deliver the slip, abrasion resistance, and durability long associated with PTFE, often at a lower cost and with easier formulation compatibility. As customers transition away from PFAS chemistry, our replacements have offered a seamless pathway that maintains, and in some cases improves, end-use performance.”

Ruckle says that the focus is on PFAS replacement, although the US EPA seem to be pulling back from their projected tough stance. 

“Siltech has published silicon-based solutions for surface energy, slip and hydrophobicity properties that rival PFAS materials,” adds Ruckle. “Today we are working on oleophobicity, and can achieve sliding angles of water on glass that are comparable to trifluoromethyl performance.”

“As PFAS restrictions reshape the inks industry, formulators are looking for solutions that protect both performance and the planet,” Struck observes. “Fortunately, one of Evonik’s core technologies is siloxane chemistry. Tailored siloxane-based wetting agents can often replace (PFAS) flurosurfactants as efficient substrate wetting additives, and Evonik has a large portfolio available.” 

“We are committed to providing advanced alternatives that perform equally well or better than current options and are guaranteed microplastic-free,” Kwasneski points out. “Furthermore, expanding our selection of products made with renewable raw materials gives our customers greater choice and flexibility.

“Maintaining current quality and technical standards while pursuing sustainability requires essential investments in R&D, innovative raw materials, and new technologies,” adds Kwasneski. “MÜNZING is fully committed to this path, demonstrated by our significant investment in creating products that are sustainable, biodegradable, and microplastic-free.”

“We’ve seen this happening two different ways,” John notes. “Of course, it happens explicitly through regulation as we’ve seen with materials such as PFAS, mineral oils, and many dyes. 

“However, we’ve started to see more implicit phasing of various feedstocks by way of social and economic pressures,” adds John. “The 2025 tariffs imposed by the US are a great example of this, forcing the hands of many manufacturers, causing them to explore a variety of alternative chemistries. We at Gehring-Montgomery seek to remedy this for our customers by exploring these alternatives in-house, so we can stay nimble as we secure new relationships and expand our supply network.” 

Ink Industry Needs

Ink additive manufacturers are developing new products to meet their customers’ needs.

“When selecting additives, ink manufacturers are focused on choosing the product that provides the best balance of properties needed in their formulas,” Struck says. “Product availability and value in use are also strong considerations.”

“Ink manufacturers operate in a highly competitive environment that demands both technical excellence and cost efficiency,” Czarnecki says. “To address this balance, we have developed several value-engineered additives that provide exceptional surface durability, slip, and rub resistance without adding unnecessary cost to a formulation. Our MP-28AL series, which uses aluminum oxide–fortified synthetic wax, has expanded significantly due to strong customer interest. This targeted, application-specific approach helps our customers fine-tune performance while staying competitive in their respective markets.”

“Additive selection by ink manufacturers is driven by performance demands, application needs, regulatory compliance, and sustainability goals,” Kwasneski says.

Condon says that regulatory compliance is important for packaging inks today. 

“Ink makers are evaluating additives for FDA/food-contact approvals, Nestlé/EuPIA compliance, VOC regulations, and sustainability requirements (bio-based additives, low VOC),” he adds. “Many are looking for a cost–performance balance, like the cost per pound vs. performance, usage levels required, a global supply stability or multi-functional additives (one product replacing two).” 

Supply, Pricing and Tariffs

For the most part, supply issues have been stable for additive manufacturers, although tariffs have created some challenges.

“One notable development has been the recent resolution of tariff issues involving Brazil, which is particularly important because carnauba wax, a key ingredient in many of our products, is exclusively sourced from that region,” Czarnecki says. “The stability of this supply chain is essential for formulators who rely on carnauba for its unique combination of high lubricity, surface protection, clarity, and natural origin. Carnauba wax remains a highly valued raw material not only because of its performance but also because it is fully natural, renewable, and sustainable – attributes that align well with the evolving priorities of the coatings and ink industries. The improved tariff landscape helps ensure reliable availability and stable pricing for customers worldwide.”

“There is movement on qualifying suppliers who are not US-based to ensure supply,” Ruckle says. “The uncertainty of tariff announcements has created some chaos, which will hopefully even out in 2026.”

“The supply chain has stabilized, providing manageable lead times and strong availability,” Kwasneski says. “This is a major improvement, though we still need to address certain issues, specifically the difficulty in predicting costs given current price fluctuations.”

Condon points out that Gehring-Montgomery is a US-based company, and much of its ink products come from either Germany or Poland. 

“This gives Gehring-Montgomery more flexibility and resources to supply with multiple sources,” he adds. “The tariffs have been a glitch, where some raw materials costs have decreased and offset the tariff’s costs. We also spent a lot of capital on inventories before the tariffs were in place, which gave our customers a secure and stable price with plenty of inventories.”