Worldwide shipments of industrial printers were essentially flat year over year in 2025, according to the latest release of the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Industrial Printer Tracker. Beneath a largely unchanged top line, 2025 was a transition year for the industry, shaped by accelerating digital press adoption in label & packaging, the arrival of AI workflow solutions from leading vendors, continued downward ASP pressure in large format, and a steadily expanding footprint of Chinese brands in entry-level segments.

Large format printers continued to represent the bulk of industrial printer unit shipments and the majority of shipment value, but the category’s dynamics diverged: CAD value declined, with the mature technology offering few new features to support higher ASPs, while graphics posted modest growth in both units and value, echoing the broader industry pivot toward higher-value production applications showcased by vendors at print expos throughout 2025. Label & packaging was one of the most strategically important segments of the year, with a wave of new digital press launches at events such as Labelexpo in Europe and Dscoop in the US, and the debut of AI solutions from vendors such as HP and Durst for integrating devices and workflows, marking the start of a shift from hardware-led to solution-led competition.

“2025 was a turning point for industrial print as the arrival of AI-powered solutions echoes a pattern playing out across hardware industries more broadly. End users demand simpler workflows, with real-time intelligence that impacts their bottom line,” said Roberto Alunni, Senior Director, IDC.

Worldwide Industrial Segment Highlights for 2025

• Large format printer shipments were essentially unchanged year over year as modest graphics growth offset a decline in CAD, while combined large format shipment value was lower, with CAD value declining more sharply than units as ASP pressure intensified.
• Label & packaging was among the strongest-performing segments of the year, with solid growth in both units and shipment value, supported by accelerating digital press adoption.
• Direct-to-shape posted the strongest combined unit and value growth of any industrial print category in 2025.
• Industrial textile shipments grew in units but value declined, reflecting increased competition from entry-level devices, which are becoming more capable and taking share from mid-range models.
• Desktop label shipments were essentially flat worldwide, with strong North American growth offsetting weakness across much of the rest of the world.
• Direct-to-garment was the weakest-performing segment of 2025, with both units and value in decline, driven by softness in the United States.

Regional Dynamics in 2025

• Middle East & Africa and Latin America were the fastest-growing regions in unit terms, continuing a multi-year pattern of industrial print expansion across both regions.
• Japan and Central & Eastern Europe both delivered positive unit growth, with Central & Eastern Europe posting one of the strongest value-growth rates of any region.
• China remained the single largest market by shipment value even as unit shipments contracted, with a sharp pullback in large format CAD partly offset by continued investment in higher-value label & packaging and industrial textile equipment.
• North American shipments and value were both lower than in 2024, driven largely by weakness in large format CAD and direct-to-garment in the United States.
• Western Europe was broadly stable, with modest declines in both units and value.