The global barcode printer market size in 2026 is expected to reach US$5.656 billion.

Article Summary: A report by market research firm Future Market Insights (FMI) indicates that globally...Barcode printerSales reached $2.758 billion in 2016, with sales volume reaching 30.86 million units. The report predicts that the barcode printer market will grow at a CAGR of 7.4% during the forecast period of 2016-2026, reaching a market size of $5.656 billion by 2026.

Since its inception, barcode technology has gradually become one of the most common information management methods in modern society due to its flexibility, efficiency, reliability, and low cost in information collection. Barcode reading and printing equipment is the prerequisite and foundation for the widespread application of barcode technology. Furthermore, with the continuous development of barcode technology, it has become an indispensable basic equipment in the construction of information systems for industries such as retail, logistics and warehousing, product traceability, industrial manufacturing, healthcare, e-commerce, and transportation.

A barcode printer is a specialized type of printer. The biggest difference between a barcode printer and a regular printer is that barcode printers use heat as their printing medium, employing a ribbon (or thermal paper) to complete the print. The biggest advantage of this printing method over regular printing is its ability to achieve continuous, high-speed printing unattended. The content it prints typically includes company logos, serial numbers, packaging labels, barcodes, envelope labels, clothing tags, and so on.

A recent FMI report indicates that global barcode printer sales reached $2.758 billion in 2016, with sales volume reaching 30.86 million units. The report forecasts that during the forecast period of 2016-2026, the barcode printer market will grow at a CAGR of 7.4%, reaching $5.656 billion in market size and 53.84 million units in sales volume by 2026, representing a CAGR of 5.7%.

According to Consumer Electronics Net, many manufacturing companies worldwide are reducing time and material waste and increasing efficiency and output by automating and simplifying processes. Barcoding is one of the most widely adopted technologies. This technology can significantly reduce production time in the manufacturing process, thus driving demand for barcode printers.

Digital barcodes have become the standard for storing and labeling product information. Global retailers use barcodes to record goods and sell them to customers. Affixing a label with a barcode to a product records information such as quantity, name, manufacturing/supply date, and price. Scanning the barcode allows for retrieval and monitoring of the information within it. This action, completed in seconds, not only improves efficiency but also minimizes errors, making it convenient for retailers to record their products and inventory in stores and warehouses.

In terms of printing technology, barcode printers use ribbons and labels to print barcodes. Their principle and construction differ slightly from computer printers; they typically lack a programmable logic controller and rely on an external computer system. Currently, thermal transfer barcode printers hold a 62.8% market share, and due to their lower cost, they are expected to continue growing during the forecast period. Matrix, laser, and inkjet technologies will be gradually phased out.

North America and Western Europe are the fastest-growing regions for barcode printers, while Latin America is experiencing slow market growth due to low adoption rates of barcode technology. In the Asia-Pacific region (excluding Japan), barcode printer market growth is also slowing due to saturation and slower growth in the mainland's manufacturing sector.

The 2016-2021 China Barcode Printer Industry Market Demand Report shows that, as printer prices have decreased, they have gradually become more widespread in China. Abroad, almost all production units are equipped with a label and barcode printer for product identification and other purposes. Moreover, most companies also have auxiliary equipment such as barcode readers and barcode data collectors (inventory machines) to form an automated management model for barcode management within the company.

Currently, the barcode industry has become one of the important technological means to promote the informatization of the national economy. In today's era of economic and information globalization, its development and the promotion of its technological applications play a pivotal role in the development of my country's informatization. Looking ahead to 2019, the demand for barcode reading and printing equipment in my country's retail, logistics, and warehousing sectors will continue to maintain steady growth.