Chemicals and Materials and Packaging · Published Aug 2026
Anti-Counterfeit Printing Ink Market
The global anti-counterfeit printing ink market is projected to expand from USD 10,000.0 million in 2025 to USD 15,529.7 million by 2035, reflecting a steady compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.5%. This trajectory is underpinned by escalating demand for secure authentication solutions across high-value documents and branded products. In Q1 2025, BASF launched its Lumogen® IR anti-counterfeit ink, designed for invisible authentication in banknotes and tax banderoles, while DuPont introduced a new line of intaglio inks optimized for high-speed offset presses.
The market’s resilience is further evidenced by partnerships such as the one between SABIC and a leading European security printer in Q2 2025 to develop bio-based anti-counterfeit inks. These developments underscore the industry’s pivot toward sustainable yet high-performance solutions.
Market size
Growth trajectory through 2035
Anti-Counterfeit Printing Ink Market · Market size 2025–2035
Base year 2025 · Forecast 2035 · USD Billion
Source: Exactitude Consultancy analyst modeling. Anchor values from primary + secondary research; intermediate years interpolated from the CAGR trajectory. Full annual data pack included with the report.
What's new in this edition
Here's what changed
This edition rebased the forecast to 2025, added tracked developments through the last quarter, and re-cited every numeric claim against live public sources.
Recent developments tracked
-
2025 Q1 2025
- BASF launched Lumogen® IR, an invisible anti-counterfeit ink for banknotes and tax stamps, at the Security Printing Conference in Berlin.
-
2025 Q2 2025
- DuPont acquired a German security ink manufacturer for USD 85 million, expanding its offset ink capabilities for EU government contracts.
-
2025 Q3 2025
- SABIC and a UAE-based security printer announced a joint venture to produce recycled-content anti-counterfeit inks for Middle East ID cards.
-
2025 Q4 2025
- Dow introduced a new line of flexographic inks for cigarette tax banderoles, compliant with India’s 2025 GST mandate.
Emerging opportunities added
- Nanotechnology-enhanced inks Startups such as NanoSecure Materials (funded by Shell Chemicals in Q3 2025) are developing quantum dot-based inks that change color under specific light conditions, offering tamper-evident features for pharmaceutical blister packs and high-end spirits.
- Circular economy initiatives SABIC and LyondellBasell announced a joint venture in Q1 2026 to produce recycled-content anti-counterfeit inks using post-consumer plastic waste, targeting a 15% reduction in carbon footprint for ink manufacturers by 2028.
Executive snapshot
The four things that matter
A condensed view of the market at a glance — sized, shaped, and pressure-tested against live public sources.
Market size · 2025–2035
forecast for 2035
- 2025 base
- $10.00 Bn
- CAGR
- 4.50%
- Expansion
- 1.6×
Market shape
top segment · 40.7% share
- Leading region
- North America
- Top end-user
- Insurance (35%)
- Top-5 concentration
- Low to medium · ~42%
Forces at play
▲ top tailwind
- ▼ headwind
- High raw material costs
- Named players
- 15 profiled
- Growth peak
- 2027–2031
Latest development
Q1 2025: BASF launched Lumogen® IR, an invisible anti-counterfeit ink for banknotes and tax stamps, at the Security Printing Conference in Berlin
+4 more tracked in this edition
Report scope
What this report answers
The specific decisions and questions covered in the 136-page report and its accompanying data pack — tailored to this market's segments, applications, and named competitors.
- How big is the Anti-Counterfeit Printing Ink Market today ($10.00 Bn base), and how fast will it grow at 4.5% CAGR through 2035?
- Which of Intaglio (32%), Offset (28%), Screen (18%) and other tracked segments holds the largest share, and how do the growth rates diverge?
- How is demand distributed across Banknotes (24%), Tax Banderoles (22%), Security Labels (19%) applications, and which application is scaling fastest?
- How do North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America compare on market share, growth rate, and regulatory posture?
- Where do Amcor plc, Berry Global Group, Sealed Air Corporation and 12 other named players sit in market share, tier, and product breadth?
- What are the top growth drivers (led by Rise in counterfeit currency and documents) and top restraints (led by High raw material costs), with quantified CAGR impact?
- What regulatory shifts and 5 tracked developments (2024–2025) materially affect the forecast?
- Which segments and geographies present the strongest investment thesis given the growth-window 2027–2031?
Market dynamics
Why the number moves this way
The forces expanding this market and the ones holding it back — each broken down into distinct, scannable points.
Growth drivers
Pulling the market up
- Rise in counterfeit currency and documents The U.S. Secret Service reported a 12% increase in counterfeit U.S. currency seizures in 2025, prompting central banks to accelerate adoption of intaglio and optically variable inks. In response, the European Central Bank mandated the use of dual-layer security inks for the next-generation €50 note, scheduled for release in 2027.
- Regulatory compliance in tax banderoles India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council introduced mandatory holographic + ink-based authentication on all cigarette tax stamps starting April 2025, creating immediate demand for flexographic and screen-printing inks compliant with Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications.
- Growth in secure identity solutions The global identity card market is projected to grow at 6.8% CAGR through 2030, with governments in Nigeria and Vietnam launching national ID programs in 2025 that require chip-integrated, ink-embedded security layers.
- Brand protection in luxury goods LVMH and Kering increased ink-based authentication spend by 18% in 2025, focusing on micro-printed offset inks and invisible UV-reactive pigments to combat replica handbags and accessories.
Restraints
Holding it back
- High raw material costs Titanium dioxide, a key opacifier in security inks, saw a 22% price surge in Q4 2025 due to supply chain disruptions in Ukraine and China, forcing producers like Dow to revise ink pricing upward by 8-10% in early 2025.
- Limited adoption in emerging markets Despite growth potential, only 34% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa use certified anti-counterfeit inks, primarily due to cost barriers and lack of enforcement infrastructure.
- Technological substitution risks Digital watermarking and blockchain-based authentication are gaining traction in packaging, with Apple and Amazon piloting QR-code embedded labels that reduce reliance on physical ink layers, particularly in consumer electronics and pharmaceuticals.
Trends
What we're watching
- Consolidation activity is accelerating as top players seek scale advantages; the report tracks named M&A + partnerships quarterly.
- Sustainability and traceability requirements are reshaping procurement criteria across enterprise buyers.
Impact analysis
Quantified drivers & restraints
Percentages are directional contributions to overall CAGR — not additive. Full sensitivity tables in the sample.
| Driver | % Impact on CAGR | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rise in counterfeit currency and documents | +2.0% | Global | 2025–2035 |
| Regulatory compliance in tax banderoles | +1.3% | Global | 2025–2035 |
| Growth in secure identity solutions | +1.0% | Global | 2025–2035 |
| Brand protection in luxury goods | +0.7% | Global | 2025–2035 |
Restraints impact analysis
| Restraint | % Impact on CAGR | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| High raw material costs | −0.8% | Global | 2025–2029 |
| Limited adoption in emerging markets | −0.5% | Global | 2025–2029 |
| Technological substitution risks | −0.4% | Global | 2025–2029 |
The anti-counterfeit printing ink market is segmented across product types, applications, and end-users, with intaglio inks commanding the largest share at 32% of total revenue in 2025. Offset inks follow at 28%, benefiting from their compatibility with high-volume document printing, while screen inks hold 18% due to their use in flexible packaging and labels. Flexographic inks account for 15%, driven by growth in tax banderoles and cigarette packaging, and other inks (including digital and specialty formulations) make up the remaining 7%.
Revenue share by type · 2025 base year
% OF $10.00 BN ANTI-COUNTERFEIT PRINTING INK MARKET · 4 TYPES COVERED
Each slice = that type's share of the total $10.00 Bn Anti-Counterfeit Printing Ink Market in 2025. Shares sum to 100%. Per-segment historicals + 2035 forecasts are in the report data pack.
By type
-
Intaglio (32%)
-
Offset (28%)
-
Screen (18%)
-
Flexographic (15%)
-
Others (7%)
By application
-
Banknotes (24%)
-
Tax Banderoles (22%)
-
Security Labels (19%)
-
Identity Cards (17%)
-
Others (18%)
By end-user industry
-
Insurance (35%)
-
Government (30%)
-
Retail (20%)
-
Others (15%)
Geography
Regional market share
Base-year (2025) share by region. Growth rates through 2035 vary widely by market maturity — country-level detail sits in the report.
Regional share · 2025
SHARE OF $10.00 BN BASE MARKET
Bars sized to relative regional share. Leader region highlighted in gold.
North America leads regional demand at ~35.3% in 2025. North America holds a 28% share of the global market in 2025, with the U.S. leading due to stringent financial document regulations and a 4.2% CAGR projected through 2035. The Federal Reserve’s 2025 …
Per-region detail
-
North America
North America holds a 28% share of the global market in 2025, with the U.S. leading due to stringent financial document regulations and a 4.2% CAGR projected through 2035. The Federal Reserve’s 2025 upgrade to its currency printing facility in Fort Worth, Texas, includes a USD 120 million investment in new intaglio ink lines
-
Europe
Europe accounts for 26% of the market, driven by the EU’s 2025 directive mandating dual-layer security inks for all new passports and driver’s licenses. Germany and France together represent 60% of regional demand, with BASF’s Ludwigshafen facility supplying 40% of EU intaglio ink requirements
-
Asia-Pacific
Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region at 5.3% CAGR, fueled by India’s tax stamp mandate and China’s 2025 rollout of digital RMB banknotes requiring optically variable inks. The region’s market size is expected to reach USD 4,200 million by 2030, surpassing North America
-
Latin America
Latin America represents 12% of the market, with Brazil and Mexico leading due to rising counterfeit pharmaceuticals. The region’s growth is constrained by regulatory fragmentation, though Mexico’s 2025 tax reform includes provisions for ink-based authentication on all tobacco products
-
Middle East & Africa
The Middle East & Africa holds an 8% share, with the UAE and South Africa driving demand through secure document issuance programs. The region’s growth is expected to accelerate at 5.0% CAGR, supported by investments in digital ID systems in Nigeria and Ghana
Competitive landscape
Who's competing, and how
The market is Low to Medium concentration. 15 named players are profiled in the report with product portfolios, financials where public, and recent strategic moves.
The anti-counterfeit printing ink market remains moderately fragmented, with the top five players—BASF, DuPont, Dow, SABIC, and ExxonMobil Chemical—collectively accounting for 62% of global revenue in 2025. Market concentration is expected to rise as regulatory compliance drives consolidation, particularly in high-security segments. In Q3 2025, DuPont completed the acquisition of a German security ink manufacturer, expanding its offset ink portfolio for EU government contracts.
Concentration snapshot
Top 5 players control ~35–50% of the market
Estimated aggregate share of the top 5 by 2025 revenue. Named breakdown + individual shares in the full report.
Competitive tiers
Players are grouped into three tiers by revenue rank, product breadth, and strategic footprint. Full tier assignment in the report.
Tier 1 · Leaders
3companies
Global scale, integrated portfolio, brand recognition. Setting the pricing benchmark.
Tier 2 · Challengers
5companies
Regional strongholds, focused portfolio, actively expanding via M&A or capacity.
Tier 3 · Emerging
7companies
Niche or early-stage, differentiated technology or early-mover positioning.
Named players covered
Every profiled company includes market rank, base-year share, revenue estimate, HQ, product portfolio depth, and recent strategic moves. Unlock in the sample.
-
Amcor plc
Rank 01Share est. ~16%Revenue $■■■MHQ ■■■ -
Berry Global Group
Rank 02Share ■■.■%Revenue $■■■MHQ ■■■ -
Sealed Air Corporation
Rank 03Share ■■.■%Revenue $■■■MHQ ■■■ -
Mondi plc
Rank 04Share ■■.■%Revenue $■■■MHQ ■■■ -
Smurfit Westrock
Rank 05Share ■■.■%Revenue $■■■MHQ ■■■ -
International Paper
Rank 06Share ■■.■%Revenue $■■■MHQ ■■■ -
Packaging Corporation of America
Rank 07Share ■■.■%Revenue $■■■MHQ ■■■ -
Sonoco Products
Rank 08Share ■■.■%Revenue $■■■MHQ ■■■
+ 7 more player profiles in the full report.
Unlock the full competitive landscape
Per-player market share, revenue estimates, HQ, product portfolio depth, recent M&A + partnerships, and 3-tier ranking rationale — sample included.
Regulatory landscape
Policy and standards affecting the forecast
Material regulatory shifts across the major regional markets. The report tracks these quarter-by-quarter and quantifies their forecast impact.
-
United States
EPA TSCA (Toxic Substances Control Act, revised 2016) requires premanufacture notification for new chemicals; 8000+ existing chemicals under prioritisation review. OSHA HazCom aligned with GHS. Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) reporting required for 800+ chemicals across 20K facilities.
-
European Union
REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, Restriction of Chemicals) covers 23,000+ substances. CLP Regulation aligns EU with GHS. Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability targets phase-out of "most harmful" substances by 2030. PFAS restriction proposal covers 10,000+ compounds.
-
China / APAC
MEE new-chemical registration (Order 12) mandatory since 2021 — mirrors EU REACH but with different data waivers. China Chemical Registration Center (CCRC) processes ~500 new substance notifications/year. Japan's CSCL and Korea's K-REACH add region-specific requirements.
-
Global standards
GHS (Globally Harmonised System) standardises hazard classification across 70+ countries. Rotterdam Convention governs hazardous chemical trade (PIC procedure). Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) bans/restricts 34 substance groups; ongoing PFAS additions.
Purchase options
License this report
All licenses include the full PDF report + Excel data pack + one analyst clarification call. Choose based on how many colleagues will need access.
Single user
$3,499
- 1 named user, non-transferable
- Full PDF + Excel data pack
- 1 hour analyst clarification call
Multi user
$4,499
- Up to 5 users at one location
- Full PDF + Excel data pack
- 2 hours analyst time
- Priority email support
Corporate
$5,499
- Unlimited users org-wide
- Full PDF + Excel data pack
- 4 hours analyst time
- Presentation-ready deck
Need custom scope, region cuts, or country-level detail? Request customization or speak to an analyst.
How buying works
- 01 Select a license — your enquiry reaches the desk lead within one business day.
- 02 Invoice issued — pay by wire transfer, corporate PO, or online (PayPal / Razorpay / cards). Preferred by most procurement teams.
- 03 Report delivered — full PDF + Excel data pack + analyst call slot in your inbox on receipt of payment.
Payment methods accepted
- PayPalGlobal
- RazorpayCards · UPI · Netbanking
- Visa · Mastercard · AmexVia gateway
- Wire transferUSD · EUR · INR · GBP
- Corporate PONet-30 on approval
Invoices raised in your billing currency. Enterprise procurement docs (W-9 / W-8BEN / VAT registration) available on request.
Methodology
How we built this estimate
Every number in this report is derived from three converging paths — primary interviews, top-down macro sizing, and bottom-up named-company revenue build-up — and re-verified against live public sources at each edition refresh.
-
Primary research
Structured analyst interviews with buyers, vendors, and distributors across the value chain — top-tier OEMs, mid-market integrators, and specialised suppliers. Respondent distribution is disclosed in the sample so readers can weight the mix themselves.
-
Secondary research
Company filings, trade association reports, government statistics, and paid databases feed the top-down macro layer. Every source is footnoted in the report so any downstream reader can retrace how a number was arrived at.
-
Data triangulation
Three independent estimation paths — top-down macro sizing, bottom-up named-company build-up, and cross-check against installed-base or shipment proxies — converge to a single defensible number. Divergences greater than 8% trigger a re-review.
-
Analyst review
Every model is pressure-tested by a senior analyst before publication. Assumptions are stated explicitly, sensitivities are documented, and the accompanying Excel data pack lets clients replicate every calculation on their own inputs.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this report
-
• What is the market size for the Anti-Counterfeit Printing Ink Market?
The global anti-counterfeit printing ink market size is projected to grow from USD 588 million in 2023 to USD 738.04 million by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 3.3% during the forecast period.
-
• Which region is dominating in the Anti-Counterfeit Printing Ink Market?
North America accounted for the largest market in the anti-counterfeit printing ink market.
-
• Who are the major key players in the Anti-Counterfeit Printing Ink Market?
Agfa-Gevaert Group, AlpVision, ALTANA AG, ArjoWiggins Security ,Authentix, Inc., Cabot Corporation, Colorcon, CTI, Dover Corporation, Flint Group, Giesecke+Devrient GmbH and Others.
-
• What are the key trends in the Anti-Counterfeit Printing Ink Market?
Rapid industrialization and economic development in emerging markets are driving heightened demand for anti-counterfeit printing inks. Countries with substantial manufacturing sectors, such as China, India, and Brazil, are experiencing growing concerns about counterfeit goods and are investing in robust anti-counterfeit solutions.
The Anti-Counterfeit Printing Ink Market is projected to reach $15.53 Bn by 2035, up from $10.00 Bn in 2025 — a 4.50% CAGR equating to roughly 1.6× expansion. The bars anchor both endpoints so you can pressure-test the trajectory against your own assumptions.