Global organic pigments market

Market Size and Trends

Global organic pigments market is estimated to be valued at USD 6.56 Bn in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 9.48 Bn by 2031, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.4% from 2024 to 2031.

The market is expected to witness positive growth over the forecast period. Increasing demand from various end-use industries such as printing inks, paints & coatings, plastics, and others is expected to contribute to the market growth. Organic pigments are increasingly being utilized in the manufacturing of printing inks owing to their brighter color, better shading properties and color consistency when compared to inorganic pigments. Furthermore, rising application of organic pigments in plastic manufacturing is also anticipated to drive the market growth. However, factors such as availability of substitute products and stringent environmental regulations regarding organic pigments production may hamper the industry growth during the forecast period.

Increase demand for organic pigments in paints & coatings industry

The demand for organic pigments is steadily rising in paints and coatings industry as consumers are becoming more environmentally conscious. Majority of organic pigments are derived from vegetable or animal sources and do not pose risk to the environment during their production, use or at end-of-life.  In recent years, there has been a tectonic shift in preferences of consumers who are willing to pay extra for eco-friendly products. The younger generation of millennial population in particular is driving this change by choosing brands that have strong commitments towards sustainability. This burgeoning trend is making paint and coating manufacturers include larger proportion of organic pigments in their formulations. Stringent environment regulations worldwide regarding VOC emissions is also shifting the industry towards waterborne and powder coating technologies where organic pigments have distinct advantages over others, therefore, growing paints & coatings industry is expected to drive the market growth. For instance, according to the data by Polymers and Paints Journal  in February 2024, India’s paint and coating industry has registered high single digit or double digit growth (barring the COVID-hit 2020) during the last 10 years.

Market Concentration and Competitive Landscape

Rising health concerns due to hazardous chemicals

Consumers at large spaces like schools and hospitals are wary of interior paint emissions. Even for do-it-yourself painting jobs, users want pigments which are safer for their families. The use of non-toxic ingredients addresses such needs and provides peace of mind. Interestingly, performance parameters of organic pigments have improved significantly to match functionality of inorganic alternatives. This addresses previous apprehensions of industries about compromised quality, opening up new markets. 

Market Challenges: Availability of raw materials & stricter environmental regulations

One of the main challenges faced by the organic pigments market is the availability of raw materials. Natural pigments are derived from plants, minerals, and other organic sources which face supply constraints. Environmental regulations around the use of heavy metals present in some organic pigments are becoming more stringent. This increases production costs as companies invest in developing environment-friendly alternatives.

Market Opportunities: Rising health awareness is driving a shift towards safer pigment choices

Organic pigments market witnesses robust demand from key end-use industries like printing inks, paints and coatings. Rising health awareness is driving a shift towards safer pigment choices. Expanding applications in plastics, cosmetics and textile printing offer new opportunities for organic pigment suppliers. Rapid urbanization in emerging nations also fuels the need for innovative pigment solutions across various industries.

Insights, By Type: Azo segment dominate due to its wide applications in printing inks

Azo segment is estimated to contribute the 39.1% share of the organic pigments market in 2024 due to its widespread usage in printing inks. Azo pigments are highly favored for printing applications because these exhibit excellent opacity, tinting strength, and color strength even at low concentrations. These also demonstrate good lightfastness properties and color consistency. Azo pigments are affordable to produce and offer bright coloring properties, making them a top choice for printing on various substrates like paper, plastic, and metal. Their uniform particle size allows for superior color development and consistency across large production batches. Azo compounds can be readily synthesized to produce a huge palette of intense shades of red, orange, yellow and others. The global printing industry relies heavily on azo pigments to print books, magazines, packaging, labels and other printed materials. Azo pigments meet the stringent quality and performance requirements of high-speed commercial printing processes. These provide long-lasting, vibrant color reproduction essential for branding and product promotion.

Insights, By Application: Paints & Coatings see growing use of phthalocyanine pigments

Paints & coatings segment is estimated to contribute 37.7% of the market share, among which phthalocyanine pigments capture a notable share. Phthalocyanine pigments exhibit beneficial properties like high tinting strength, excellent lightfastness and weatherability. These provide vibrant green, blue and other shades with remarkable fastness properties. These pigments are increasingly gaining popularity for automotive and industrial coatings where long-lasting and consistent color is imperative. Car manufacturers favor phthalocyanine green and blue pigments for their ability to withstand harsh outdoor environments and protect against fading over the vehicle's lifespan. Their fine particle size allows seamless integration into high-solid paint systems as well. Their weatherproof performance promotes use in marine and protective coatings too. Environmentally compliant "green" formulations represent a major opportunity. "Cool roof" coatings utilizing phthalocyanine pigments reflect sunlight and conserve energy. Growth in solar panel production also stimulates demand. 

Regional Insights

North America continues to dominate the global organic pigments market with estimated 41.2% share in 2024, owing to strong presence of key players and end-use industries in the region. The U.S. accounts for the major share due to large paints & coatings industry and extensive usage of organic pigments in various applications such as plastics, printing inks and constructions. Major players like BASF, Clariant, DIC Corporation and Heubach have their headquarters located in the U.S., strengthening the supply chain and driving R&D investments in the region.

Asia Pacific region is poised to be the fastest growing market for organic pigments globally over the next five years. China represents the major share and is emerging as the largest producer. Abundant raw material availability and lower production costs are attracting investments by global industry leaders to set up manufacturing units. Together with Indonesia and India, China is also a significant exporter satisfying global demand. Growing end-use industries like packaging, automotive OEM and consumer goods offer immense opportunities. In addition, countries like Vietnam, Malaysia and South Korea are rapidly industrializing, driving regional paints market and subsequent pigments demand. With rising disposable incomes, consumption of consumer products is accelerating which bodes well for the organic pigments industry expansion.

Market Report Scope

Key Developments

• In 2023, Heubach launched Ultramarine Blue pigments
• In 2022, Heubach Group and SK Capital Partners acquired Clariant's Global Colorants Business, forming a global pigment technology leader under the Heubach brand
• In July 2021, DCL acquired Sun Chemical’s manufacturing facility in Goose Creek, South Carolina, U.S., thus, adding specialty pigment families with high performance characteristics for demanding applications like automotive coatings
• In June 2021, DIC successfully completed the acquisition of BASF SE's global Colors and Effects business, known as BASF Colors & Effects (BCE), further solidifying its position in the organic pigments market

*Definition: The organic pigments market produces and supplies pigments derived from organic compounds for various industries. Organic pigments are colored, black, white or fluorescent particulate organic solid compounds used to color materials like paints, inks, plastics, and other materials. They are generally insoluble in their application medium but are dispersed and may be suspended permanently.

Market Segmentation

•  Type Insights (Revenue, USD Bn, 2019 - 2031)
• • Azo
  • Pthalocyanine
  • HPPs
  • Others
•  Application Insights (Revenue, USD Bn, 2019 - 2031)
  • Printing inks
  • Paints & coatings
  • Plastics
  • Others
• Regional Insights (Revenue, USD Bn, 2019 - 2031)
  • • North America
    • U.S.
    • Canada
  • Latin America
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • Mexico
    • Rest of Latin America
  • Europe
    • Germany
    • U.K.
    • Spain
    • France
    • Italy
    • Russia
    • Rest of Europe
  • Asia Pacific
    • China
    • India
    • Japan
    • Australia
    • South Korea
    • ASEAN
    • Rest of Asia Pacific
  • Middle East & Africa
    • GCC Countries
    • Israel
    • Rest of Middle East & Africa
• Key Players Insights
  • BASF SE
  • Clariant AG
  • Dominion Colour Corporation
  • Ferro Corporation
  • Heubach GmbH
  • Sudarshan Chemical Industries Ltd.
  • Sun Chemical Corporation
  • DIC Corporation
  • Pidilite Industries Ltd.
  • Toyocolor Co. Ltd.
  • Sensient Technologies Corporation
  • Trust Chem Co. Ltd.
  • LANXESS AG
  • Vipul Organics Ltd.
  • Qualitron Chemicals
  • Colors India
  • Navpad Pigments
  • Pure Chemicals
  • Sparkem
  • Pravin Dyechem Pvt. Ltd