By 2030, according to WTiN data, global digital textile printing output will have surpassed 5 billion sqm annually, whereas output was just 2.6 billion sqm in 2018. It represents a healthy CAGR of 6% from 2018-2030, but much of that growth was confined to three standout years: 2019, 2021 and 2024. Therefore, the forecasted CAGR from 2025-2030 is just 3%, suggesting that the market is maturing.

The slowdown in growth also factors in a global trade war, ignited by President Donald Trump’s recent tariff policy. The global economy has been left reeling with trillions of dollars wiped off the US stock market in the spring of 2025.

Among the hardest hit are companies with international supply chains, including leading fashion and sportswear brands. The unpredictability of Trump’s decision-making has left these businesses uncertain about how to proceed, a key reason their share prices have plummeted in recent months.

On Wednesday 9 April, there was a glimmer of hope when Trump announced a 90-day pause on new US import tariffs. However, the reprieve notably excluded China. This renewed focus on China provides a clearer picture for global businesses: a trade war between the two nations now appears