2012 Top International Ink Companies Report

For the leading international ink companies, 2012 was an interesting year. There was good news to be found, as sales grew for a number of companies, driven by growth areas such as packaging, inkjet and energy curing. As expected, the publication and commercial printing markets are continuing to decline, and ink manufacturers supplying these segments are feeling that impact.

Raw materials have been another area of concern in recent years, as costs have skyrocketed and supply has been affected in recent years. During the past year, raw material supply has been less of a concern, and pricing has, for the most part, leveled off. However, raw materials costs have stabilized at high levels, which is impacting margins.

The good news is that ink manufacturers are continuing to look for ways to grow their business, whether it is through developing innovative products, building new state-of-the-art facilities or committing additional resources to important markets. As the printing and ink industries move forward, there are opportunities for growth. For ink manufacturers, developing new products and improving their productivity will be keys to success in the coming years.