The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region presents a great opportunity for companies in the commercial printing business, as the market is estimated to grow by 6.2% in 2019, to be one of the world’s highest growth regions for printing.
In 2019, the total value of the commercial print business in MENA is forecast to reach $32bn, according to a research from Smithers Pira, the worldwide authority of packaging, print, and paper supply chains. They released the data ahead of the 2019 edition of the Gulf Print and Pack, a leading industry event for the commercial print and packaging industry in the region.
“The report estimates MENA will grow by 6.2% by next year. This is way ahead of the growth rate for the world print market, which at 1% is struggling to adjust to declines in demand for traditional print products as media products become increasingly digitised,” said Andy Thomas-Emans, strategic director at Tarsus Group.
There are several strategic trends that will influence the print business in MENA in 2019. Inkjet will remain the region’s fastest growing print technology, with a compound annual growth rate of 12.7%. This is followed by electrophotography and gravure. “This shows that the region still has a huge untapped market for digital technologies that could spur the growth of the industry in the future,” added Thomas-Emans.
Xerox, a provider of digital print technology, sees the Middle East region as one of the most strategically important markets for the company and considers the coming trade show to be a great platform for strengthening its customer and partner relationships as well as showcasing the brand’s latest offerings. It has launched new machines for the show, often ahead of their global roll out to “underscore the significance of the event to our business throughout the Middle East and Africa (MEA),” said Pui Chi Li, head of marketing at Xerox MEA.
Meanwhile, package printing is the most valuable end-use application for print in MENA, worth $20bn in 2019. Industry stakeholders aiming to secure business projects are encouraged to attend the Gulf Print and Pack 2019, which is scheduled to take place in April at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
