AWA Report Projects 2.8% Growth in Global Glue-Applied Label Market by 2026

Glue-applied labels dominate the food and beverage sectors especially for labeling products like beer, mineral water, soft drinks, and canned foods due to the high volumes required. The most common method is cold or wet glue labeling. AWA defines glue-applied labels to include both cold (wet) glue patch labels and hot melt glue-applied labels, such as wrap-around cut-and-stack and wrap-around roll-fed formats.

Overall the global market for glue-applied labels is forecast to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR %) of around 2.8% for the period 2023 to 2026. The forecast growth rate by individual glue-applied label format for the period 2023 to 2026 is estimated at an annualized rate of 2.5% for cold (wet) glue-applied labels and 3.0% for wrap-around formats.

Regionally, Asia holds the largest market share for glue-applied labels, with 48% of production occurring there. Europe follows with 19%, while North and South America each account for 14%. The Africa and Middle East (AME) region contributes 6%.

In Europe, the inventory build-up and change in consumer behavior in 2023 resulted in European Cold Wet Glue-applied label volume decline by 18.1%, and North American decline by 6.2%, which influenced the Global Cold Wet Glue-Applied Label format you glue-applied label format to experience a decline in 2023 of 2.7%.

Glue-applied labeling continues to face intense competition from alternative labeling technologies in these key markets – especially from pressure-sensitive labels in applications such as premium beers and wines; heat shrink TD sleeve labels in the labeling of ‘ready to drink’ (RTD) beverages and flavored alcoholic drinks (FAD); stretch sleeve labels in mineral waters; from ROSO™/MD shrink sleeve labels in labeling jars of powdered products and spreads; and from RFS MD shrink sleeve labels in soft drinks, juices, energy drinks, and mineral waters.