Conductive Inks for Additive Manufacturing Market, By Conductive Ink Type (Silver-Based Conductive Inks, Copper-Based Conductive Inks, Carbon-Based Conductive Inks, and Other Metal-Based Inks), By Printing Technology (Inkjet Printing, Screen Printing, 3D Printing, Flexographic Printing, and Other Technologies), By End-use Industry (Electronics, Automotive, Healthcare, Aerospace, and Others), By Geography (North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East, and Africa)

Published In : Feb 2025

Code : CMI4502

Pages :110

Formats :

Excel and PDF

Industry : Advanced Materials

Market Challenge - Silver price volatility can affect the conductive ink composition

The price of silver is quite volatile and subject to fluctuation based on economic and geopolitical factors outside of the control of conductive ink manufacturers. As silver is a primary raw material for many conductive inks used in additive manufacturing applications, any increase in global silver prices can adversely impact margins and overall profitability for ink companies.

For example, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) data, the average monthly London Bullion Market Association price of silver fluctuated between US$ 21.67 per ounce in January 2022 and US$ 24.39 per ounce in March 2022. Ink makers must carefully consider silver pricing trends and hedge appropriately to minimize risks from supply chain disruptions and increase of input expenses over time.

Market Opportunity - Development of silver inks for new markets

The continuous expansion of the additive manufacturing industry into new applications and technologies presents strategic opportunities for conductive ink manufacturers to develop specialized silver-based products. Silver inks show strong potential for diverse sectors like printed electronics, 3D-printed sensors and Electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. By closely tracking emerging opportunities, ink companies can formulate new product lines targeting growth areas like IoT devices, biomedical implants, and functional consumer products. For example, data released in 2023, according to World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that by 2030, non-communicable diseases, chronic diseases will account for almost three quarters of all deaths worldwide. 3D printing offers opportunities to address medical device shortages and help better manage chronic diseases.