Pigment ink consumption is growing globally, but not to the extent that many industry analysts predicted.

In 2024, pigment volumes reached 1,784 metric tons, representing just 4% of the world’s digital textile ink market. By 2026, WTiN predicts that this figure will rise to 1,992 metric tons; however, even then, the market share is expected to increase by only a percentage point.

Pigment inks are primarily used for printing cellulosic fabrics, which challenges reactive formulas that remain the go-to ink category for cotton and cotton blends. There were 14,989 metric tons of reactive ink consumed globally last year, increasing to just 15,084 metric tons by the end of 2026.

The data suggests that demand for reactives will plateau in the short to medium term, and there are several reasons for this. The reactive printing process is more complex, requiring pre-treatment, steaming, fixation, and post-washing to achieve good quality, which raises questions about whether the total cost of ownership of a reactive process is still less than that of a pigment method.  

Globally, reactive inks cost an average of US$11.12 per litre. In Europe, the average price is US$9.98 per litre, and in Asia it falls to US$6.94 per litre. By