Dye sublimation market to reach $3.4 billion by 2021

Dominant end-use in the garments and textiles industry is predicted to transform the dye-sublimation market into a $3.4 billion market in the next five years. This is according to a recently published research by UK-based business intelligence firm Smithers Pira, entitled "The Future of Dye Sublimation Printing to 2021". Besides apparel, the company tracked the increased adoption of the technology across key-use segments, including signage, household and technical.

Data gathered revealed an 18.4 percent year-on-year growth in the amount of printed material in the next half-decade. During the period, the volume and value of dye sublimation-printed material is expected to more than double.

The process is particularly popular in the garments industry because it involves sublimating the dye into gas, allowing colorants to penetrate and bond permanently inside textile fibers. This results in a high-resolution, permanent coloration that is resistant to peeling and cracking.

Smithers Pira predicts that approximately 900,000sqm of fabrics will be printed using the process by 2021.

As the dye sublimation market booms, it is also expected to create several opportunities for ink and textile suppliers, press builders and partners across the value chain.

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