Color printing ink (excluding black) market in Denmark

Earlier Report Observations

The market for color printing ink in Denmark experienced a sustained decline in physical volume from 6 454 t in 2018 to 3 214 t in 2024. This contraction was driven by a structural shift in the printing industry towards digital methods, particularly inkjet technology, which began gaining significant commercial adoption from 2021 onward. The increased focus on digital color management and workflow efficiency reduced the consumption volume of conventional offset inks.

In value terms, the market showed greater resilience, peaking at 31.1 million USD in 2022 before declining to 24.7 million USD in 2024. The higher value retention relative to volume was supported by the growing adoption of specialized, higher-cost ink types, including environmentally friendly and UV-curing inks, which became a focal point for product development and consumer preference.

The technological transition was steady throughout the period. From 2020, digital color management using ICC profiles became more widespread to ensure print consistency. By 2022, the annual growth rate of digital print was estimated at 5.8%, with inkjet as the dominant driver, cementing the long-term trend away from traditional ink formulations and consumption patterns.

Production color printing ink in Denmark

In value, 2018-2021, K $ US

In Denmark, the output value of color printing ink (excluding black) reached 22,876 thousand US dollars in 2021, marking a gradual decline of 8.8% from the previous year. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 21,743 thousand US dollars, while the peak occurred in 2020 at 25,086 thousand US dollars. The largest increase was seen in 2020, with a rise of 15.4%.

Annual dynamics of production in Denmark in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

In kind, 2018-2021, t

Denmark produced 1,495 tonnes of color printing ink (excluding black) in 2021, representing a significant drop of 18.3% compared to 2020. From 2018 to 2021, production fell by 36%, translating to an annualized decline of 13.8%. The steepest decrease occurred in 2019 at 26.0%, while the largest increase was recorded in 2020 at 5.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in Denmark in kind, 2018-2021, t

Exports color printing ink from Denmark

Exports in kind, t

Denmark's export volume of color printing ink (excluding black) declined for the third consecutive year. In 2021, exports stood at 1,166 tonnes, showing a solid drop of 15.4% year-on-year. Between 2018 and 2021, exports decreased by 51.2%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 21.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Denmark in kind, 2018-2021, t

From 2018 to 2021, Denmark's exports of color printing ink (excluding black) in volume terms were widely dispersed across countries. Belgium accounted for 20.6% of exports, the United States for 8.6%, and Cyprus for 7.7%, together making up just 36.8% of total flows. The remaining 63.2% was distributed among a broad range of other destinations.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's exports from Denmark in kind, 2018-2021

Exports in value, K $ US

Denmark exported 27,608 thousand US dollars worth of color printing ink (excluding black) in 2021, indicating a strong reduction of 15.8% from the previous year. Between 2018 and 2021, exports decreased by 25.9%, with an annualized rate of 9.5%. The largest increase was recorded in 2020 at 2.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Denmark in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

From 2018 to 2021, Denmark's exports of color printing ink (excluding black) in value terms were spread across numerous countries. Sweden contributed 15.3% of exports, Ireland 10.4%, and Poland 9.8%, jointly accounting for only 35.5% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's exports from Denmark in value, 2018-2021

Imports color printing ink to Denmark

Imports in kind, t

Foreign supplies of color printing ink (excluding black) to Denmark declined for the third year in a row. In 2021, imports totaled 5,252 tonnes, down by 9.7% compared to 2020. Over the period from 2018 to 2021, imports decreased by 19.3%, with a compound annual growth rate of -6.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Denmark in kind, 2018-2021, t

From 2018 to 2021, Germany led as the top supplier of color printing ink (excluding black) to Denmark, accounting for 61.0% of imports in volume terms, followed by Sweden at 15.3% and Finland at 8.9%. Together, these three countries represented 85.2% of total imports.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's imports to Denmark in kind, 2018-2021

Imports in value, K $ US

Imports of color printing ink (excluding black) into Denmark declined for the third consecutive year. In 2021, Denmark imported a total of value_last_year thousand US dollars worth of color printing ink (excluding black), down by 12.3% from the previous year. Over the period from 2018 to 2021, imports decreased by 20.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of -7.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Denmark in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

From 2018 to 2021, Germany was the largest contributor to Denmark's imports of color printing ink (excluding black) in value terms, with a share of 37.0%, followed by Sweden at 18.8% and the Netherlands at 15.4%. These three countries jointly accounted for 71.2% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's imports to Denmark in value, 2018-2021