According to AWA Alexander Watson Associates, 2013 was a year when economic growth at last accelerated for the global label and product decoration industry, with demand at 3.5% over prior year. There was a  return to sustainable business levels in the developed European markets, but the North American market lagged behind global growth through a decline in demand for glue-applied systems. Growth in the emerging markets of China, India, and South America also slowed, but continued to be the powerhouse for overall global growth. The migration from established pressure-sensitive and glue-applied label formats to sleeving technologies continued, and positive growth in in-mold labeling was also in evidence.  

These trends, along with raw material pricing, M&A activities in the industry, choice of labeling substrate, and perceptions of the market’s future directions are at the heart of AWA Alexander Watson Associates’ new Global Labeling & Product Decoration Market Update 2014.

The report complements the regular in-depth studies published by AWA Alexander Watson Associates that closely monitor the behavior of individual geographical markets, labeling technologies, and end-use markets for labels and product decoration. Full details are available via www.awa-bv.com, where the report may also be ordered online.