According to Smithers Pira, the digital textile printing market would touch AED20 billion by 2023 with a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.6%.

Sharif Rahman, CEO, International Expo Consults, organizers of Sign & Graphics (SGI) 2020 show, said, “Digital textile printing industry is an untapped market for the GCC players and it’s the right time for them to grab the opportunity. They will need to have state-of-the-art equipment to cater to these demands.  Currently, textile printing is a mature global market, but as per reports digital textile printing still forms less than 5%-7% of this global industry, so there is a huge window of opportunities awaiting the equipment manufacturers.”

“GCC houses several of retail destinations, including high-end furniture brands and these numbers are rising. Millennials are the key propellers of digital textile printing market as they prefer creatively designed, cost effective and high graphic printed apparels and textiles developed through digital textile printing. T-shirt and home furnishing printing are expected to be the key end use application for digital textile printing. Also the dramatic shift in the buying patterns of millennials has triggered an increase in popularity of stylish textile designs, both through e-commerce and actual brick and mortar stores. This is expected to boost the growth of global digital textile printing market,” added Rahman.

SGI Dubai 2020 will also have several global environmentally friendly ink manufacturers. In terms of volume, sublimation is the most widely used ink for digital textile printing, accounting for largest market share within the digital textile printing market. Currently, the most commonly used techniques are direct-to-fabric and direct-to-garment segment, and this accounts  for over 80% of digital textile printing market share.

“Rising population not only in GCC but across the globe, will further increase the demand and GCC players should devise a strategic plan to stay ahead, collaborate with the right strategic partners and capitalize on these potential opportunities. SGI Dubai serves as a bridge between players and help them to establish a firm footprint in the MENA market,” added Rahman.