Sales increase declines, but industry remains upbeat as environmental focus takes root.
Ink World magazine reports that the 
Chinese printer ink market remains positive following domestic and international manufacturers growth throughout 2011 and estimates pointing solidly for a repeat at the close of 2012.
Akihiro Takamizawa, President, Hangzhou Toka Ink, commented: “The Chinese printing market last year has grown. However the size of the growth has been weaker than previous years. Chinese economic growth is forecasted to be the same level from this year to next year.”
With raw material and manpower costs expected to continue to rise, many industry figures expect to see fiercely heightened competition and declining profit margins.
Jack Baarends, Bloit Printing Ink, remarked: “The Chinese printing and printing ink industry is still growing, but not on the level of previous years. A growth of at least 10 percent could be reached every year. However, the growth is now around six percent.
”Business is more and more focused on economics and competition is becoming harder. The Chinese market is still dominated by the foreign, namely Japanese ink producers, and local ink majers have to offer some extras over these foreign companies to be able to gain more business.”
Despite this, Baarends states that environmental issues are becoming increasingly prolific, and is seeing a rapid upsurge in attention.
“The interest of printers, distributors, advisors for sustainability, competitors, suppliers, press, environmental groups and co-suppliers for green and sustainability was overwhelming. It seems that ‘Green’ and ‘Sustainability’ are a myth, as companies advertise they have green inks, bio inks, more green than before, but talk only about bio-based, vegetable and solvent-free. Bloit will be successful, because they are open to the printing industry and tell how green their inks are.”