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World demand for labels is projected to rise 5.2 percent per year to 51.6 billion square meters in 2015, valued at $110 billion. Advances will be driven by gains in manufacturing activity, which will increase from a low 2010 base. Pressure sensitive labels will remain the largest product type and continue to take market share from glue applied products in major packaging applications. Above-average demand growth is also expected in other label segments such as stretch sleeve, heat-shrink and in-mould labels, though gains in these relatively newer label technologies will stem from small bases.

In 2010, pressure sensitive labels accounted for 52 percent of the global label market (in volume terms), a share that is expected to increase even further in the coming years. While demand for glue-applied labels will see below-average growth, this segment will remain the second largest overall, accounting for more than 30 percent of global label market volume through 2015. Smaller label segments such as stretch sleeve, heat-shrink and in-mold labels will see some of the fastest growth through the forecast period.

The Asia/Pacific region will see the most rapid gains and remain the largest regional market in the world, due to its large manufacturing industries. Central and South America, Eastern Europe, and the Africa/Mideast region will also experience above-average growth. Overall, the fastest growth will occur in Asia, specifically in India, China and Indonesia. China alone will account for 31 percent of global label market volume gains between 2010 and 2015.

In contrast, advances will generally be below average in North America and Western Europe, where markets are more established. The US, which accounted for 18 percent of global sales volume in 2010, is the largest national label market in the world. Other large, but generally mature markets include Japan and Germany. While Japan will remain one of the largest national markets in the world, the country is forecast to see the slowest growth rate through 2015. Nonetheless, good opportunities will still be found in developed countries, especially for digitally printed labels that capitalize on trends favoring shorter label runs and mass customization.

Source: The Freedonia Group.