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Market Overview

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The global printed electronic materials market is forecasted to reach $17,560 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 18.82% during the period of 2022-2031. North America, including major countries such as the U.S., and China dominated the market in 2021, with North America being the most prominent due to its large automotive and consumer electronics manufacturers.

The term printed electronics refers to various printing methods used to manufacture electronic devices by printing different inks on substrates. These inks consist of electrically active materials with properties such as luminescence, electrophoresis, semiconductivity, conductivity, or electrochromism. Printed electronic materials are used to create antennas, flexible displays, soft energy devices, sensors, and more. The demand for thinner electronics and wearable devices is driving the growth of the printed electronic materials market. Flexible electronics are utilized in cell phones, displays, health tools, security tags, automotive and environmental sensors, and other applications. The increasing adoption of smart devices globally is expected to drive the demand for flexible electronics and consequently boost the demand for printed electronic materials. Additionally, the medical industry is focusing on the development of smart cards, safe medicine packaging, smart wearables, and other applications, further contributing to market growth.

The printed electronic materials market is currently in the development phase. The increasing demand for flexible displays and the adoption by new end-users such as automotive manufacturers and the consumer electronics industry are driving its growth. The automotive and transportation industry, in particular, has witnessed a surge in demand for printed electronic materials due to their design flexibility, high performance, and electrophoretic properties.

Key factors driving the expansion of the global printed electronic materials market include the increased usage in antennas, flexible displays, soft energy devices, and sensors. The demand for thinner electronics and wearable devices is also contributing to market growth. However, higher investment costs are hindering market growth, along with the challenge of producing high-quality graphene on a large scale.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the global printed electronic materials market in 2020 due to disruptions in manufacturing activity, supply networks, and production halts. Various end-use sectors, including automotive and consumer electronics, experienced operational shutdowns, leading to reduced demand for printed electronic materials. However, the market quickly adapted to the challenges posed by the pandemic and provided smart solutions in the healthcare industry, such as printed sensors, smart patient monitoring devices, smart masks, and smart patches.

The demand drivers for the global printed electronic materials market include the growing adoption in the automotive industry and significant cost advantages. On the other hand, higher investment costs and challenges in producing high-quality graphene on a large scale are limitations that the market may face.

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Market Segmentation

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The market is segmented based on various factors, including application, end-use industry, material, technology, and region.

Segmentation by Application
Display
RFID Tag
Photovoltaic Cell
Battery
Lighting
Others

Segmentation by End-Use Industry
Automotive and Transportation
Consumer Electronics
Aerospace and Defense
Retail and Packaging
Healthcare
Others

Segmentation by Material
Ink – Silver Ink, Carbon Ink, Copper Ink, and Others
Substrate – Organic and Inorganic

Segmentation by Technology
Inkjet Printing
Screen Printing
Gravure Printing
Flexographic Printing
Others

Segmentation by Region
North America – U.S., Canada, and Mexico
Europe – Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and Rest-of-Europe
China
U.K.
Asia-Pacific and Japan – Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, and Rest-of-Asia-Pacific and Japan
Rest-of-the-World – Middle East and Africa and South America

In 2021, the displays segment dominated the printed electronic materials market based on applications and was the largest segment. This can be attributed to the increasing sales of smart devices worldwide. The demand for smartphones and flexible electronics devices is driving the growth of the displays segment as they enhance customer experience in various industries such as consumer electronics and automotive. Displays are used to project text and video graphics to consumers using different technologies. These displays are categorized based on color capability, viewability, sharpness, technology, and size. Technologies used in electronic displays include LED, backlit LCD, TFT LCD, QLED display, OLED display, AMOLED, and other technologies. Displays are continuously being used to improve customer experience in automotive and consumer electronics.

In terms of end-use industry, the automotive and transportation segment dominated the printed electronic materials market in 2021 due to the increasing sales of electric vehicles worldwide. The adoption of electric vehicles has resulted in a higher demand for printed electronic materials for lighting, display, and other purposes. The demand for electric vehicles has grown significantly in recent years, particularly in countries like the U.S., China, and Japan. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), 6.6 million electric vehicles were sold in 2021. The rising adoption of electric vehicles is driving the demand for printed electronic materials for various applications in the automotive industry such as temperature sensors, human-machine interfaces, displays, lighting, and more.

The ink segment was the largest segment in the printed electronic materials market in 2021. This is mainly due to the growing demand from end-use industries such as automotive and consumer electronics. Ink is preferred for its lightweight, flexible, thin, and cost-effective nature. Carbon-based ink has seen increased demand and interest from industrialists, contributing to the growth of this segment.

Screen printing was the dominant technology segment in the printed electronic materials market in 2021. It offers the advantage of low-cost equipment and can be used to mass-produce printed materials like membrane keyboards and RFID antennas. The increasing demand for retail, packaging, and healthcare applications is expected to drive the market growth in the forecast period of 2022-2031.

In terms of regional dominance, North America leads the printed electronic materials market. It is a major hub for electronics manufacturing and is home to leading industry players across the supply chain. Additionally, the region has a fast-developing economy. The Asia-Pacific and Japan region are experiencing rapid growth due to industrialization and urbanization. The strong support from the government and the rising gross domestic product (GDP) of emerging markets contribute to the growth of the printed electronic materials market.

The North America region includes countries like the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The end-use industries for printed electronic materials in this region are growing rapidly, including electric vehicles, smartphones, laptops, electronic wearables, healthcare, and smart packaging. These industries benefit from decreasing prices and advancing technologies. Printed electronic materials are primarily used to provide miniaturization, lightweight, and enhanced performance to electronic components used in these industries. The U.S. is known for being at the forefront of adopting new and innovative technologies, particularly in automotive and consumer electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, and IoT. Technological advancements in the U.S. are driving the growth of the printed electronic materials market in industries like biomedical, aerospace and defense, transportation, and consumer electronics.

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Competitive Landscape

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The selection of profiled companies has been based on inputs obtained from primary experts, as well as analysis of their company coverage, product portfolio, and market penetration.

Key companies profiled in this report include Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, NAGASE & CO., LTD., E Ink Holdings Inc., Agfa-Gevaert Group, DuPont de Nemours, Inc., BASF SE, Molex, LLC, Teikoku Printing Ink Mfg. Co., Ltd., Creative Materials, Poly-ink, Sun Chemical, ACI Materials, Inc., Kayaku Advanced Materials, Inc., C3Nano, GenesInk, Dycotec Materials Ltd., Copprint, Mateprincs.

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Recent Industry Developments

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In January 2022, Creative Materials developed the 129-32 thermoformable in-mold compatible electrically conductive ink, which holds significant applicability in the screen-printing market. This product series demonstrates exceptional adhesion capabilities to acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyester, poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), and various other high-energy surfaces.

In August 2022, C3Nano announced the successful completion of a $35 million growth capital financing provided by Element Solutions Inc. This financing consisted of both equity and debt, empowering the company to expand its silver nanowire synthesis and production capacity located in Hayward, California.

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Key Questions Answered

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What are the primary factors and trends influencing the printed electronic materials market?

How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the global printed electronic materials market, and what are the major disruptions in the supply chain?

What measures have existing players taken to improve or maintain their market positioning, and what strategies have new players adopted when entering the market space?

Which segments in terms of material, technology, application, and end-use industry are leading in the printed electronic materials market, and how are they expected to perform during the forecast period?

What are the latest developments in various countries worldwide concerning the development of the printed electronic materials market?

What are the significant challenges in adopting printed electronic materials in different regions and countries, and are there any regional or global government regulations impacting the market?

How did the recent semiconductor crisis affect the printed electronic materials market, and what are the key tactics for players to recover from this crisis?