Although the Indian label industry is growing well, the current year’s CAGR numbers are not as robust as in the previous decade. This is likely to change for the better, with close to double-digit growth likely to resume in the next financial year from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. The current year is seeing flat growth amongst many of the leading global food and FMCG companies in India with their overall growth in the low single digits and GDP growth which is between 6.5% and 7.5%.
However, the label production capacity creation in the current year with the total installations of narrow web flexo and hybrid and hybrid digital presses is likely to reach anywhere from 120 to 130. These include approximately 25 imported presses from Gallus, Bobst, Mark Andy, Lombardy, and Edale – several of which are likely to be 10 units including a gravure unit, and also a fair number of wider presses going from 440 mm to 660, 750 or even 800mm. In addition, there may also be one or two installations of Taiyo presses aimed at lamitube production.
The Indian-manufactured flexo label presses will again dominate the market this year, apart from their growing exports. The number of manufacturers reaching the market is increasing. This is likely to be visible at the Labelexpo show in Greater Noida from 14 to 17 November which our team will cover.
Among the Indian manufacturers, we include Nilpeter which has an interesting new press made in the Chennai plant and which was recently shown at the Labelexpo America show in Chicago. The other significant Indian manufacturers who will achieve installations by March 2025 are Multitec, UV Graphics, Alliance, NBG, Webtech, and RK Labels. Some new entrants such as Moksha, Print and Paper, and TPH may show their presses at Labelexpo but we have yet to see their installations. Among the 90 to 100 Indian label press installations by March, there are orders and installations of several long presses including gravure units and wider configurations aimed at the short-run flexible packaging market.
To the best of our knowledge, the digital press installations this financial year will include presses from HP, Durst, Domino, and Konica Minolta, possibly one or two from Chinese manufacturers, and as many as half a dozen digital label presses from Indian manufacturer Monotech Systems. This could make for approximately 20 digital press installations by March end.
File Photo/PSAIppStar’s research (www.ippstar.org) expects Indian label production to resume its higher growth trajectory in the coming quarters and years with perhaps double digital growth in the next financial year. Per capita, label consumption is likely to achieve the level of other Asian markets such as Indonesia in the next three to four years.
Monocarton capacity creation
Monocarton production capacity creation continues with the installation of new well configured mainly 7-color plus coater sheetfed offset presses in the B1 format. The leader in terms of installations in the financial year ending 31 March is likely to be Komori with about 10 installations, The other two successful manufacturers in this market segment are Heidelberg and KBA who will likely achieve five or six installations each. For Heidelberg, drupa saw good sales globally and a good comeback in the Indian market as well.
