Printing Blanket Market Size and Share
Market Overview
| Study Period | 2019 - 2030 |
|---|---|
| Market Size (2025) | USD 1 Billion |
| Market Size (2030) | USD 1.24 Billion |
| Growth Rate (2025 - 2030) | 4.34% CAGR |
| Fastest Growing Market | Asia Pacific |
| Largest Market | Asia Pacific |
| Market Concentration | Medium |
Major Players
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order Image © Mordor Intelligence. Reuse requires attribution under CC BY 4.0. |
|
Printing Blanket Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence
The printing blanket market size stands at USD 1 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 1.24 billion by 2030, registering a 4.34% CAGR. This advance reflects steady demand from packaging converters, continued investment in LED-UV presses, and the need for high-definition graphics across premium consumer goods. Packaging, label, and specialty security work keep offset equipment running even as shorter commercial runs migrate to inkjet. Manufacturers focus on UV-compatible compounds, quick-release bars, and compressible layers that cut make-ready time and hold dot structure. Raw-material volatility and stricter environmental rules raise input costs, yet scale efficiencies in Asia Pacific temper margin pressure and sustain orderly pricing in the printing blanket market.
Key Report Takeaways
- By blanket type, Conventional commanded 48.0% share of the printing blanket market size in 2024, while UV is poised for 4.45% CAGR growth to 2030.
- By substrate type, Paper and Board led the market with 52.3% in 2024, whereas Textile/Fabric is expected to grow at a 4.61% CAGR through 2030.
- By application type, Packaging accounted for 41.5% of demand in 2024 and is projected to expand at a 4.82% CAGR through 2030.
- By printing process, Sheetfed Offset held 46.2% of the market in 2024, while Digital Offset is forecasted to grow at a 4.67% CAGR to 2030.
- By geography, Asia Pacific contributed 62.0% of the printing blanket market in 2024, and is set to grow at a 4.40% CAGR through 2030.
Global Printing Blanket Market Trends and Insights
Drivers Impact Analysis
| Driver | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surging demand for UV-compatible blankets in LED-UV and H-UV presses | +1.2% | Global – APAC & North America lead | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Boom in short-run customised packaging driving blanket changeovers | +0.9% | Developed markets worldwide | Short term (≤2 years) |
| Rapid growth of flexible-packaging applications in F&B | +0.8% | APAC core, MEA & South America follow | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Rising quality requirements for high-definition graphics | +0.7% | North America & EU, expanding APAC | Long term (≥4 years) |
| Expanding per-capita packaging consumption in emerging economies | +0.6% | APAC, MEA, South America | Long term (≥4 years) |
| Regulatory push toward low-VOC blanket-wash chemicals | +0.3% | EU & North America, global diffusion | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Source: Mordor Intelligence | |||
Surging Demand for UV-Compatible Blankets in LED-UV and H-UV Presses
LED-UV and H-UV retrofits reduce energy use by approximately 70% compared to mercury lamps, enabling printing on heat-sensitive films. These capabilities, prized by packaging plants, require blankets that endure intensified UV exposure without glazing or premature swelling. Suppliers now market low-swelling rubber compounds and reinforced compressible layers that extend life cycles. Adoption is strongest in Japan, the United States, and coastal China, where converters are racing to shrink drying times and increase press uptime. Stricter volatile organic compound limits further accelerate UV migrations, anchoring a positive mid-term impact on the printing blanket market.
Boom in Short-Run Customised Packaging Driving Blanket Changeovers
E-commerce and brand personalization have reduced average folding-carton runs from 50,000 to roughly 35,000 units, effectively doubling the annual blanket swaps in many sheetfed plants.[1]Packaging World Staff, “Short-Run Packaging Drives Innovation,” packworld.comPremium blankets with quick-release bars and stable surface micro-geometry command higher prices yet save hours in make-ready labor. North American brand owners demand seasonal variants, while European converters automate blanket handling to offset rising wages. The increased turnover stimulates volume growth in the printing blanket market, despite the total number of printed meters remaining stable.
Rapid Growth of Flexible-Packaging Applications in Food and Beverage
Food-grade barrier films and laminates call for blankets that maintain ink density on low-surface-energy substrates. Southeast Asia leads demand, with Vietnam’s paper packaging value projected to hit USD 3.5 billion (EUR 3.2 billion) by 2026 at a 9.73% CAGR. Blanket producers differentiate through micro-cell textures that boost ink lay-down and compressible bases that absorb web flutter at 500 m/min. High traceability standards in packaged foods keep offset viable, preserving revenue streams for the printing blanket market.
Rising Quality Requirements for High-Definition Graphics
Luxury cosmetics, spirits, and pharmaceutical cartons now specify 200-line screens and 2% dot-gain tolerances. Blanket surfaces must hold roughness below 1.0 µm and resist chemical attack from metallic inks. North American brand audits are increasingly highlighting the print halo, prompting converters to adopt dual-compressible designs validated under the Technical Association of the Graphic Arts' test regimes.[2]Technical Association of the Graphic Arts, “Technical Resources,” printing.org Premium quality expectations support margin resilience throughout the printing blanket market.
Restraints Impact Analysis
| Restraint | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accelerating shift to digital inkjet printing (blanket-free) | -1.8% | Global – North America & EU lead | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Decline in newspaper and magazine print volumes | -0.9% | Global – severe in developed markets | Short term (≤2 years) |
| Stringent VOC-emission norms raising compliance costs | -0.4% | EU & North America, global | Long term (≥4 years) |
| Raw-rubber and polymer price volatility | -0.3% | Worldwide supply chains | Short term (≤2 years) |
| Source: Mordor Intelligence | |||
Accelerating Shift to Digital Inkjet Printing (Blanket-Free)
High-speed inkjet lines now achieve speeds of 300 m/min on coated stock, eroding offset volumes in catalogs and books. Smithers forecasts digital revenues rising from USD 165.3 billion in 2024 to USD 251.1 billion in 2035, while offsetting declines . Each decommissioned web tower removes a steady stream of blanket replacements. Packaging remains more resistant because inkjet still struggles with film adhesion and dense whites, yet the medium-term drag on the printing blanket market is clear.
Decline in Newspaper and Magazine Print Volumes
Daily circulation has fallen sharply across Europe and North America, slicing blanket demand on double-width coldset presses. Magazine paginations also contract as advertisers migrate online, stripping away previously stable blanket consumption. Many mills now retool lines toward packaging grades to counter this fast-moving restraint.
Segment Analysis
By Blanket Type: UV Technologies Challenge Conventional Dominance
Conventional designs held 48% printing blanket market share in 2024 due to proven reliability in commercial and packaging plants. UV-compatible blankets, however, log the fastest 4.45% CAGR as converters invest in LED-UV retrofits. The printing blanket market size for UV types is projected to reach USD 480 million by 2030, driven by premium unit pricing and expanding volumes. Manufacturers such as Trelleborg introduce UV-resistant rubber that maintains dimensional stability, allowing longer press runs before re-grinding.[3]Source: Trelleborg Marketing, “Printing Blankets,” trelleborg.com Compressible and metal-back products cater to security printing and high-speed directory presses, while hybrid blankets bridge film and paper jobs in mixed-substrate plants.
Cost-sensitive users still favor conventional nitrile blankets; however, rising energy prices and sustainability policies are pulling investment toward UV. The printing blanket market, therefore, tilts gradually, not abruptly, as converters amortize legacy heat-set assets while installing UV on new lines. Suppliers that bundle blankets with sleeve-mount kits capture service revenue and lock in customers during the transition.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
By Substrate Type: Paper Dominance Faces Textile Growth
Paper and board accounted for 52.3% of the printing blanket market size in 2024, driven by catalog, folding carton, and commercial stationery work. Despite digital pressures, demand for folding cartons rises with online retail, sustaining paper-centric blanket consumption. Textile printing logs a 4.61% CAGR, helped by on-trend micro-collections in fashion and sustainable local manufacturing. Blankets for fabric must flex across weave variations without edge-cracking, driving suppliers to engineer softer surface layers and anti-marking coatings.
Metal, plastic, and film collectively form a smaller slice yet show pockets of growth in specialty cans and stand-up pouches. Offset’s ability to render opaque inks on aluminum keeps metal printing viable, while film applications rely on compressible blankets that manage web stretch. Thus, substrate diversification shields the printing blanket market from steep declines in single-use commercial print.
By Application: Packaging Leadership Drives Market Growth
Packaging dominated the printing blanket market, accounting for a 41.5% market share in 2024, and is expected to lead growth at a 4.82% CAGR through 2030. Folding-carton producers value blanket stability during repeat orders and seasonal artwork changes, supporting recurring sales. Commercial printing remains sizable but flat as brochures and direct mail migrate to variable-data inkjet. Newspaper printing falls fastest, yet still consumes commodity blankets in emerging markets. Security applications, while niche, command premium prices for anti-counterfeit inks that offset volume weakness elsewhere.
Label converters walk a dual path: flexo for mid-length jobs, inkjet for micro-runs, and offset for demanding color gradients. Blankets with precise gauge control enable seamless shifts among paper, film, and foil substrates. The packaging-centric mix insulates much of the printing blanket market from the broader contraction of the print media industry.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
By Printing Process: Sheetfed Offset Leads While Digital Offset Accelerates
Sheetfed offset held a 46.2% share in 2024, thanks to its versatility in packaging and short-run commercial work. Digital offset platforms featuring thermal blankets are projected to post a 4.67% CAGR through 2030, capturing niches where variable data meets high ink coverage. Web heatset retains catalog and magazine work but shrinks with publication volume. Coldset still runs newspaper rolls in regions where digital penetration lags.
Flexographic rubber sleeves and gravure spot coating represent adjacent technologies rather than direct substitutes; yet, many blanket suppliers cross-sell into these presses. The coexistence of processes ensures steady baseline demand even as each shop optimizes its mix. In aggregate, the printing blanket market benefits from printers retaining multiple technologies to serve diversified customer portfolios.
Geography Analysis
The Asia Pacific commanded 62% of the printing blanket market in 2024 and is forecasted to record a 4.40% CAGR from 2024 to 2030. China operates extensive offset capacity for export packaging and domestic retail, while India’s label segment is projected to rise from USD 2.3 billion to USD 3.6 billion by 2025. Japan’s USD 50 billion print sector sets quality benchmarks and drives early adoption of UV blankets. Southeast Asia gains market share as Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand attract foreign investment into packaging hubs that offer lower labor costs and competitive tax regimes.
North America remains critical for high-margin specialty blankets thanks to strong brand oversight and tight regulatory control. U.S. converters lead LED-UV retrofits, and Canadian plants supply luxury spirits packaging to global markets. Europe mirrors North America in sophistication but faces steeper offset attrition in the commercial print sector. Environmental directives are accelerating the migration to low-VOC washes and bio-based rubber, spurring product innovation.
South America, the Middle East, and Africa collectively account for under 10% of the printing blanket market today, yet they offer upside potential through industrialization and rising per-capita consumption. Lower inkjet penetration sustains offset blanket volumes, while government infrastructure projects keep local newspaper presses in operation. Blanket makers deepen partnerships with regional dealers to secure after-sales service, a critical differentiator in price-sensitive geographies. Across all regions, currency volatility and logistics bottlenecks nudge manufacturers toward multi-plant footprints, balancing cost and proximity.
Competitive Landscape
The printing blanket market exhibits moderate fragmentation, with the five largest vendors accounting for approximately 40% of the combined revenue. Continental AG, Trelleborg AB, and Flint Group anchor the premium tier, offering a broad range of lines that span conventional, UV, and hybrid solutions. Continental added EUR 15 million (USD 16.5 million) UV-blanket capacity in Germany in January 2025, underscoring confidence in packaging demand. Flint’s 2024 launch of a next-generation compressible line targets luxury cartons and security print.
Regional specialists, such as Shanghai Chen Jie and Zhuhai Print-Rite, supply cost-sensitive Asian converters, while Phoenix Xtra Blankets and Birkan adapt quickly to niche European specifications. Vertical integration marks a growing trend as press builders like Komori align with blanket firms to deliver turnkey LED-UV packages. Suppliers differentiate themselves through polymer chemistry, surface micro-machining, and automated quality control, which guarantees caliper uniformity within ±2 µm.
R&D pipelines prioritize sustainability, focusing on bio-based elastomers and recyclable backing fabrics. Early adopters earn preferred-supplier status with multinational brand owners seeking lower cradle-to-grave footprints. As replacement cycles remain short—about 8-12 months in carton plants—after-sales support and logistics agility weigh as heavily as list price in purchasing decisions. Overall, rivalry centers on technology, not just price, keeping average selling prices relatively stable despite rising raw material costs.
Printing Blanket Industry Leaders
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Continental AG
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Trelleborg AB
-
Flint Group Germany GmbH
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Habasit AG
-
Felix Böttcher GmbH and Co. KG
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Recent Industry Developments
- January 2025: Continental AG committed EUR 15 million (USD 16.5 million) to expand UV-compatible blanket production at its Northeim facility in Germany.
- December 2024: Trelleborg AB acquired a specialized blanket plant in Malaysia for USD 12 million, boosting Asia Pacific capacity for textile printing grades.
- November 2024: Flint Group Germany introduced an advanced compressible blanket series with improved dimensional stability for security and luxury packaging.
- October 2024: Komori Corporation and Day International formed a partnership to optimize blanket-press integration for LED-UV lines.
Global Printing Blanket Market Report Scope
- A printing blanket is a synthetic composite fabric utilized in the offset printing sector to convey ink from the roller to substrates such as paper, textiles, or metal. It is positioned over the plate cylinder and acts as the intermediary that transforms the right-reading image on the plate into a wrong-reading image on the rubber blanket, which is subsequently transferred to the final substrate.
- The printing blanket market is segmented by blanket type (UV printing blankets, conventional printing blankets, and combination printing blankets), substrate type (paper and board printing, metal printing, textile printing [fabric], and other printing), application type (packaging, commercial, newspaper, and other application types), and geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World). The market sizes and forecasts are provided in terms of value (USD) for all the above segments.
| UV Printing Blankets |
| Conventional Printing Blankets |
| Compressible Printing Blankets |
| Combination and Hybrid Blankets |
| Metal-Back Blankets |
| Paper and Board Printing |
| Metal Printing |
| Textile/Fabric Printing |
| Plastic and Film Printing |
| Other Substrates |
| Packaging | Flexible Packaging |
| Rigid Packaging | |
| Commercial Printing | |
| Newspaper Printing | |
| Security Printing | |
| Labels and Tags | |
| Other Applications |
| Sheetfed Offset |
| Web Heatset Offset |
| Coldset Offset |
| Digital Offset (Thermal Blanket) |
| Flexographic Rubber-Sleeve |
| Gravure / Spot-Coating |
| North America | United States |
| Canada | |
| South America | Brazil |
| Argentina | |
| Europe | Germany |
| United Kingdom | |
| France | |
| Italy | |
| Spain | |
| Russia | |
| Asia Pacific | China |
| Japan | |
| India | |
| South Korea | |
| Middle East | Saudi Arabia |
| United Arab Emirates | |
| Africa | South Africa |
| By Blanket Type | UV Printing Blankets | |
| Conventional Printing Blankets | ||
| Compressible Printing Blankets | ||
| Combination and Hybrid Blankets | ||
| Metal-Back Blankets | ||
| By Substrate Type | Paper and Board Printing | |
| Metal Printing | ||
| Textile/Fabric Printing | ||
| Plastic and Film Printing | ||
| Other Substrates | ||
| By Application Type | Packaging | Flexible Packaging |
| Rigid Packaging | ||
| Commercial Printing | ||
| Newspaper Printing | ||
| Security Printing | ||
| Labels and Tags | ||
| Other Applications | ||
| By Printing Process | Sheetfed Offset | |
| Web Heatset Offset | ||
| Coldset Offset | ||
| Digital Offset (Thermal Blanket) | ||
| Flexographic Rubber-Sleeve | ||
| Gravure / Spot-Coating | ||
| By Geography | North America | United States |
| Canada | ||
| South America | Brazil | |
| Argentina | ||
| Europe | Germany | |
| United Kingdom | ||
| France | ||
| Italy | ||
| Spain | ||
| Russia | ||
| Asia Pacific | China | |
| Japan | ||
| India | ||
| South Korea | ||
| Middle East | Saudi Arabia | |
| United Arab Emirates | ||
| Africa | South Africa | |
Key Questions Answered in the Report
What is the current value of the printing blanket market?
The printing blanket market size is USD 1 billion in 2025.
Which application drives most revenue for blanket makers?
Packaging holds 41.5% of market value and is growing at a 4.82% CAGR to 2030.
How fast is UV-compatible blanket demand expanding?
UV-ready products post a 4.45% CAGR, the quickest among blanket types through 2030.
Why does Asia Pacific dominate sales?
The region owns 62% share thanks to Chinas vast offset base and Indias rising label sector.
Who are the leading manufacturers?
Continental AG, Trelleborg AB, and Flint Group together account for nearly 28% of global revenue.
How does digital printing affect blanket consumption?
High-speed inkjet reduces blanket use in commercial print, subtracting about 1.8% from forecast CAGR but leaves packaging largely intact.
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