Global Phthalocyanine Blue Market 2025 – 2034

Reports Description

As per the Phthalocyanine Blue Market conducted by the CMI Team, the global Phthalocyanine Blue Market is expected to record a CAGR of 4.76% from 2025 to 2034. In 2025, the market size is projected to reach a valuation of USD 2.9 Billion. By 2034, the valuation is anticipated to reach USD 4.37 Billion.

Overview

The Phthalocyanine Blue Market has seen a stable increase over the last ten years, mainly because of the broadening applications that have flowed in from paints and coatings, plastics, inks, and textiles. The paint and coatings sector still represents the largest end-use industry for phthalocyanine blue, as the demand of the auto and construction industries leads to the need for durable and weatherproof pigments. Such pigments are used for their excellent heat resistance, colour strength, and lightfastness, i.e., they are the required materials in high-performance coatings.

On the one hand, the plastics sector stands as another major user, where the phthalocyanine blue pigment is a product that is increasingly employed to give brilliant colours to products of PVC, polyethylene, and polypropylene, such as packaging and consumer goods, which have been the primary sectors driving this application. In the inks segment, the adoption of digital and eco-friendly inks has resulted in the growth of this market, as low-VOC and water-based formulations are being preferred by manufacturers. Meanwhile, textiles and cosmetics are also identified as rapid application areas owing to the rising demand for bright, safe, and environmentally friendly pigments.

On a regional basis, the Asia-Pacific area is the most influential player in the market, with India, China, and Japan being the main pigment supply centres that are supported by the setting up of factories that cater to both local and foreign demand. Europe comes next and is influenced greatly by the strict environmental regulations that encourage the usage of sustainable and high-purity pigments, whereas North America continues to have a stable share that is supported by innovation in high-performance coatings and printing technology. Together, these trends indicate a change in emphasis from traditional pigment solutions to those that are cleaner, more environmentally friendly, and designed to accommodate a wide range of industrial requirements worldwide and have thus become preferred pigment solutions.

Key Trends & Drivers                                                                      

The Phthalocyanine Blue Market Trends present significant growth opportunities due to several factors:

• Shift Toward Eco-Friendly and Low-VOC Pigments: The tightening of environmental laws all over the world, like the European Union’s REACH and U.S. EPA guidelines, is compelling the users to prefer non-toxic, heavy-metal-free, and low-VOC phthalocyanine pigments. Manufacturers are more than ever compelled to reformulate their products to satisfy these requirements, for example, by generating water-soluble and solvent-free versions for coatings and inks. Among other things, it is interesting that BASF has come up with the Eco Pigment Blue 15:3, a product that is a high-performance waterborne coating that meets EU environmental norms. This is a significant step towards sustainable and regulatory-compliant solutions, which characterizes the market of R&D as well as promoting such innovations.

• Technological Advancements in Pigment Formulation: Improvement in pigment dispersion technologies, nanotechnology, and surface functionalization is helping Phthalocyanine Blue to do better in lightfastness, heat stability, and colour consistency in demanding applications. For instance, DIC Corporation has released one of the most advanced versions of micro-dispersed Phthalocyanine Blue pigments that can be used for automotive coatings with the features of uniform colour and higher scratch resistance. Such breakthroughs open new ways for the pigment to be used in high-performance coatings, specialty plastics, and digital printing inks, which in turn increases the adoption rates of the pigment across various industrial sectors.

• Rising Demand from Emerging Applications and Regions: The increased industrialization and urban development in the Asia-Pacific region, i.e. the countries of India, China, and Japan, have led to increased usage of Phthalocyanine Blue in paints, plastics, and printing inks. One of the major events in this area is the decision of Sudarshan Chemical Industries to increase its manufacturing potential at its Indian site to serve the increasing demand in the domestic market as well as exports. Also, some of the newest applications in the fields of cosmetics, textiles, and digital printing are the most promising sectors of the future, and the ascent of these sectors is being accelerated by the consumers favouring bright, long-lasting, and safe pigments. So, this movement is a hint to the market that the trend is moving away from large single applications and towards regional market segments.

Significant Threats

The Phthalocyanine Blue Market has several major threats that may hinder growth and profitability now and in the future, including:

• High Production and Raw Material Costs: To create Phthalocyanine Blue pigments that are of high purity, complicated chemical synthesis technologies, high-grade copper intermediates, and strict quality control processes need to be employed. The purpose of such measures is to attain stable performance in paints, plastics, and printing inks. In 2024, the price of copper phthalocyanine intermediates increased globally by about 12%, raising the cost of production. The increase was caused by higher energy prices, interruptions in the supply of the main mining areas, and the increased cost of environmental compliance. This price increase leads directly to the pigment price, which makes small and medium-sized manufacturers that are usually price-sensitive have limited options. As an example, Sudarshan Chemical Industries reported in June 2025 that due to the higher copper intermediate prices along with the corresponding rise in production costs, they have converted pigment prices into an upward trend for the domestic and export markets. This kind of price sensitivity might influence the penetration level of high-performance pigments in emerging markets where the profit is already very low.

• Trade Barriers and Tariff Implications: The international trade policies along with the duties have an enormous influence on the Phthalocyanine Blue supply chain. For instance, China in 2023 announced the imposition of anti-dumping duties ranging between 15 and 25 percent on Indian phthalocyanine pigment imports with the argument that the domestic producers were injured. Also, India retaliated in 2025 by imposing countervailing duties of 11–25 on certain pigments imported from China. These tariffs raise the total cost of pigments for importers, thereby making end users pay more or look for alternative suppliers which might interrupt their production schedules and long-term contracts. For example, DIC Corporation made public in July 2025 that it is going to establish production facilities in Southeast Asia as a way to avoid the negative effects of tariffs and provide its customers in the automotive and industrial coatings sectors with the stable supply they require. Such trade barriers slow down the market growth while making it difficult for new entrants attracted to the export-oriented pigment segment to consider heading there.

• Regulatory and Environmental Compliance Challenges: Strict environmental regulations in areas like Europe and North America put restrictions on the content of heavy metals in pigments as well as volatile organic compounds. For instance, the EU REACH regulation limits the amount of copper in pigments used for children’s toy coatings and food-contact applications to be under 2 mg/kg. Those who do not comply require a recall of their products, pay fines, and lose their reputation, the latter being especially the case of smaller producers and exporters. For example, in May 2025, BASF developed Eco Pigment Blue 15:3, a product for meeting the safety and environmental standards of the EU for coatings and printing inks, which helps manufacturers to comply with regulations and reduce the environmental impact at the same time. The issue of compliance demands a huge amount of R&D and the scope of production changes, which can be quite expensive for the little players in the market.

• Price Volatility and Supply Chain Vulnerability: The market is very sensitive to changes in the availability of raw materials, global logistics, and energy costs. In 2024, limitations on Chinese copper mining caused disruptions in the supply of the copper leading to an increase in pigment prices of 8–10%, which affected manufacturers of coatings and plastics all over the world. For instance, Vibrantz Technologies in June 2025 forged partnerships with Indian and Chinese intermediate suppliers with the aim of securing raw materials and avoiding supply chain disruptions, thus ensuring industrial and specialty applications have reliable pigment availability. Such fluctuations may stall production, raise expenses, and lower the certainty of profits for those users placed further down the value chain.

• Competition from Alternative Pigments: Although Phthalocyanine Blue is still the preferred pigment because of its excellent colour stability, lightfastness, and heat resistance, other pigments such as ultramarine, indigo, or organic azo pigments are gaining ground lato sensu in textiles, plastics, and inks. These are the areas where cost or regulatory compliance is given precedence. For example, Heubach Group introduced in July 2025 a high-intensity, low-cost version of traditional Phthalocyanine Blue for selected textile applications to be able to keep up with the lower-cost substitutes in the market. This competitive pressure can erode the market share of high-grade Phthalocyanine Blue pigments, most notably in price-sensitive sectors.

Opportunities

• Shift Toward Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Pigments: Environmental consciousness and the imposition of stringent regulations are factors that are boosting the demand for eco-friendly, water-reducible, and solvent-free Phthalocyanine Blue pigments. The share of eco-friendly pigments in the total global market reached about 18–20% in 2024, which is a solid indication of the increased focus on sustainable industrial practices. To illustrate, at the beginning of 2025, Clariant launched a series of waterborne digital printing inks free of heavy metals for the European market, making it easier for manufacturers to comply with REACH and California SCAQMD environmental standards with their products. The advent of such programs enables firms to set themselves apart from the competition and attain favour in markets that support the green cause.

• Emerging Market Expansion: The Asia-Pacific region is witnessing the brisk development of the paint, plastic, and ink sectors which, along with the region’s rapid industrialization and urbanization, are the main drivers behind the solid increase in demand there. The three countries of India, China, and Japan play the role of the main production hubs. Pigment production in India is projected to increase by about 8% in 2024, while exports to Southeast Asia and Europe are expected to increase by 6–7%. To illustrate, in the middle of 2025, Sudarshan Chemical Industries invested in a capacity increase at its Dahej plant to upgrade the supply of industrial and specialty products to the local market and fulfil export demand. Emerging markets are full of opportunities to supply regions that are less served and to attract new consumers.

• Technological Innovation and Product Differentiation: The implementation of pigment dispersion, nanotechnology, and surface functionalization has led to Phthalocyanine Blue’s implementation in high-performance and special applications to expand. To illustrate, in June 2025, DIC Corporation brought to the market micro-dispersed Phthalocyanine Blue pigments for automotive coatings that provide excellent colour uniformity, heat stability, and scratch resistance. Similarly, Clariant has also launched pigment systems compatible with digital printing that include water-based dyes that offer high colour intensity and longevity in textiles and packaging. Getting the technology on board provides manufacturers the opportunity to go after the upper end of the market and multiply the number of specialized applications that can use the product.

• Rising Adoption in Specialty Applications: Phthalocyanine Blue makes its way into these three sectors which are cosmetics, textiles, and digital printing because of its colour brightness, stability, and non-toxicity. To give an example, in July 2025, Heubach Group started to produce high-purity cosmetic-grade pigments that are perfect for skin and lip-safe formulations and thus facilitate the manufacture of personal care products that are safer and have more consistent color. The market’s flexibility across different lines of business is however, further demonstrated by the increased use of the product in new applications, which naturally requires additional volumes.

Category Wise Insights

By End-Use Industry

• Paints & Coatings: Phthalocyanine Blue pigments are used almost everywhere in paints and coatings because they have excellent resistance against weather, light, and chemicals. This segment meets the highest portion (more than 40%) of the worldwide pigment consumption in the year 2024, mainly due to the excellent performances of the construction and automotive sectors. For instance, Sudarshan Chemical Industries had to report a 10% increase in pigment sales for automotive coatings in 2025 due to the demand for UV-stable, high-gloss finishes. The trend towards water-based architectural coatings is also fostering a requirement for pigments that are easy to disperse and meet environmental standards.

• Plastics: Phthalocyanine Blue in plastics offers a bright and stable colour that lasts a long time, is heat resistant, and has a high tint strength for films and packaging. The rise in plastic packaging especially in flexible packaging has been the major reason for the demand for pigments where the Asia-Pacific packaging sector has been growing at the rate of 6-7% annually. As an example, BASF launched a non-abrasive blue pigment in 2025 that can resist extrusion temperatures above 280°C, thus, providing polypropylene and polyethylene applications a safe and blue-coloured solution. Companies are also being required to switch to heavy-metal-free pigment formulations that are recyclable due to environmental concerns and sustainability issues.

• Pulp & Paper: This segment is stable and niche as it is mainly for paper colouring in paper coatings, wallpapers, and special printing papers. The need for luxurious, visually appealing, and recycled papers in Asia and Europe is driving the use of pigments. For instance, the specialty paper market in India saw around 8% growth in 2024 that made the pigment use for paper coating blends increase. Manufacturers are turning to the pigments that can dissolve in water and are compatible with environmentally friendly paper-making processes.

• Textiles: Phthalocyanine Blue are the pigments that find use in textiles on account of their characteristics of brilliance, colour fastness, and resistance to washing and light. Demand for pigments is rising with the trend of sustainable textile printing and digital coloration. The worldwide digital textile printing market, which is a direct customer of pigments, grew more than 12% year over year in 2024. As an instance, the DIC Corporation developed a pigment ink in 2025 that can be used for cotton and polyester and is thus allowing the water-saving practice to be carried out without compromising on the vibrancy of the fabric.

• Cosmetics & Personal Care: Phthalocyanine Blue pigments are the makers of safe and bright blue colors in eye shadows, nail enamels, and skincare formulations. The trend of consumer preference moving towards clean and non-toxic beauty products is forcing the use of FDA-approved and vegan pigment grades. A case in point is the adoption of the Heubach Group 2025 food-grade blue pigment launch for cosmetics in Europe. This subsegment is predicted to see an annual growth rate of more than 6% till 2030 due to the rise of the luxury cosmetics market.

• Printing Inks: The Phthalocyanine Blue pigments are added in the offset, gravure, and flexographic printing inks that are for packaging and commercial printing. The global packaging industry’s 5% steady annual growth is the main driver of pigment demand, which continues without interruption. For example, Toyo Ink in 2025 created a Phthalocyanine Blue pigment line for food packaging inks, allowing the product to have high glossiness and low migration, thus improving both print stability and compliance with EU ink safety norms, a cause of sustainability and recyclability that are among the key factors for future formulations.

By Product Formulation

• Water-Soluble Phthalocyanine Blue: Water soluble Phthalocyanine Blue represents a pigment for aqueous systems such as waterborne coatings, inks, and textile dyes ensuring superior dispersion as well as environmental compliance. The change from high-VOC, solvent-based to low-VOC, water-based paints and inks, mainly in Europe and North America, is the major driver of the demand for this formulation. For instance, Clariant in March 2025, launched a new standard water-dispersible pigment line that complies with EU Green Deal requirements enabling 20% less carbon dioxide emissions during application. This development is further supported by the increasing funds for eco-friendly architectural coatings and sustainable packaging inks.

• Oil-Soluble Phthalocyanine Blue: Oil-soluble pigments are mainly for solvent systems such as automotive coatings, plastic coloring, and printing inks. These pigments are characterized by their bright color, heat resistance, and water-repellent properties. Despite stringent regulations on solvent emissions, this formulation still finds wide application in industries requiring high performance. For example, in 2025, BASF reported a 7% YoY increase in the demand for pigments for automotive refinish coatings, attributing the trend to the demand for metallic finishes that use oil-soluble Phthalocyanine Blue blends for the depth and gloss of the final product. Emerging hybrid solvent systems are allowing us to find a compromise between performance and compliance.

• Powder Form: Phthalocyanine Blue in powder form is the choice of the paint, plastic, and ink industries worldwide because of its cost-effectiveness, shelf stability, and customizable particle sizes. Nevertheless, there have been concerns about dusting and the ability to disperse the powder which nowadays is being addressed with microencapsulation or surface modification. For example, Sudarshan Chemical Industries in June 2025 unveiled a low-dust pigment powder series that not only reduces waste of materials but also airborne emissions by 30%. The automation in pigment handling and color masterbatch manufacturing is also playing a big role in the increase of the usage of powdered pigments all over the world.

• Liquid Form: Liquid Phthalocyanine Blue is a pre-dispersed concentrate the user can easily blend with paint, printing ink, or digital coating to obtain the desired shade. In this way, the whole process becomes more efficient and the strength of the color is more predictable, thus reducing the time needed for the formulation. The digital printing and inkjet ink industries have remarkably risen leading to the liquid dispersion market growth. For instance, Sun Chemical in 2025 came up with a highly-chroma liquid pigment for flexible packaging inks that leads to 25% quicker mixing and better color uniformity. Furthermore, this division is gaining popularity as a result of the growing industrial automation and color matching techniques.

• Standard Grade: Standard-grade Phthalocyanine Blue pigments are mainly fabricated for use in low-cost products where performance is not the primary consideration such as basic paints, plastic colouring, and general-purpose printing inks. Such grades ensure color stability; however, they have limited resistance to heat and light. The demand for low-cost yet long-lasting pigments from countries like India, Brazil, and Indonesia is pushing this market segment. For example, Pidilite Industries in February 2025, extended its production of standard-grade pigment dispersions to cope with the rising domestic demand for low-cost decorative paints. The development of infrastructure and housing in the Asia-Pacific region is also a major factor in this segment’s continuous growth.

• High Grade: High-grade Phthalocyanine Blue pigments emphasize superior heat stability, lightfastness, and dispersion and are the top choices for automotive coatings, industrial paints, and plastics of high value-added. The change toward the use of more durable and better-looking premium coatings has been the main factor behind the increase in the use of these pigments. For example, DIC Corporation in March 2025, announced the release of a pigment series with high durability for high-temperature automotive coatings, achieving 18% better color retention after UV exposure. This trend is consistent with rising investments in electric vehicle coatings and industrial machinery finishing which are performance and longevity-oriented.

• Food Grade: Food-grade Phthalocyanine Blue pigments (in short FD&C Blue No.1 derivatives) are developed by keeping safety and food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic regulations compliance in mind. The segment is growing because the processed food and nutraceutical industries are expanding. For example, Sensient Technologies in 2025 came up with a plant-based natural blue pigment as a replacement for synthetic dyes that meet FDA and EFSA safety standards. The increasing consumer demand for clean-label and non-toxic colorants is pushing the industry towards safer food-compliant pigment formulations all over the world.

• Eco-Friendly Grade: The eco-friendly version of the Phthalocyanine Blue pigment is made by using sustainable methods of synthesis that usually result in less hazardous solvent use, lower effluent discharge, and improvement in the product’s biodegradability. The demand for this segment is growing rapidly due to the worldwide move towards green chemistry and circular manufacturing. To illustrate this point, Heubach Group made known in May 2025 that it had launched a waterless pigment synthesis method that reduced water consumption by 40% and carbon emissions by 22%, thus shifting the industry towards sustainable pigment production. The regulatory measures like the EU’s REACH and India’s Green Manufacturing Policy 2024 are considerably speeding up the change to eco-certified pigments that are being used for the sustainability of the coatings and plastics industries.

By Application Type

• Architectural Coatings: One of the largest markets for phthalocyanine blue is the architectural coatings segment, in which the pigment is generally utilized as a part of decorative wall paints, exterior coatings, and interior finishes. It is a kind of pigment that provides great tinting strength, weather resistance, and color retention. The expansion of building and infrastructure projects, particularly in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, is the source of this segment’s growth. To give an instance, Asian Paints revealed in April 2025 that its decorative coatings division had grown by 12% year-on-year, with most of the increase coming from the demand for bright, UV-stable blue shades in tropical regions. One more factor helping this trend is the coming of eco-friendly, low-VOC paints that are more stable and suited to the use of such organic pigments as phthalocyanine blue instead of metal-based ones.

• Industrial Coatings: The industrial coatings segment utilizes Phthalocyanine Blue pigments as a result of their outstanding chemical and heat stability, which allows for them to be used for machinery, pipelines, and metal fabrication surfaces. Several factors are leading to the increase of industrial production and the growth of protective coatings that have better corrosion resistance as the main drivers to this market. For Instance, in March 2025, AkzoNobel announced the installation of an industrial coating line that used Phthalocyanine Blue pigments with nanocomposite technology resulting in 20% higher heat resistance. The rapid industrialization of countries such as China and Vietnam, coupled with the expansion of manufacturing infrastructure, continues to fuel this segment’s growth.

• Automotive Coatings: One of the major reasons for the wide use of Phthalocyanine Blue pigments in the automotive coating area is their high chromatic strength, UV resistance, and durability. The development of electric vehicles (EVs) and custom color finishes have been two factors that have had a very positive impact on pigment innovation. To illustrate this, BASF Coatings in June 2025 introduced an innovative Phthalocyanine Blue-based coating for EVs that decreases the surface temperature by up to 4°C and thus lessens battery consumption resulting in longer battery life. In addition to this, the overall recovery of the global automotive production post-2023, as well as the growing necessity for luxurious finishing in emerging markets, has significantly increased the use of top-quality blue pigments.

• Graphic Arts Applications: Phthalocyanine Blue is a bright, stable, and versatile component of printing inks and graphic arts, which makes it compatible with numerous printing substrates. The movement towards digital and packaging printing has been a source of new opportunities for pigment dispersions because of their enhanced flow and dispersion characteristics.

• Specialty Applications: Specialty applications refer to several markets such as cosmetics, plastics colorization, optoelectronics, and security inks, into which the key factors of outstanding color performance and meeting of regulations are considered the most important aspects. The popularity of Phthalocyanine Blue in the field of cosmetics and art materials has been primarily due to its nontoxic and stable characteristics. To support this statement, L’Oréal announced in February 2025 the launch of a new, eco-certified Phthalocyanine-based blue pigment for skin and makeup products that had marked a 25% increase in sustainable-ingredient adoption. Besides, the deployment of these pigments in high-tech materials, such as OLED displays and functional polymers, which are gradually attaining new functions beyond their traditional roles of colorants, is the other aspect of their expanding usage.

By Distribution Channel

• Direct Sales: Direct sales refer to the process where pigment manufacturers supply the Phthalocyanine Blue pigment directly to the industrial clients, producers of paint, plastic compounders, and ink manufacturers. Such a business strategy guarantees not only the buyer but also the seller better decision-making in terms of pricing, customization, and long-term contracts. The trend for the establishment of strategic relations between the producers of pigment and the industries of the final use is the reason for the growth in this field. A good example is the direct supply contract signed between Clariant and Asian Paints in March 2025. The agreement involves the delivery of coining Phthalocyanine Blue pigments for decorative and industrial coatings aiming at reducing the lead time by 18%. Also, direct sale channels are becoming more and more digitalized. Real-time order tracking and pigment formulation support are available through online B2B platforms, which means that there is a higher level of supply chain transparency and efficiency in the system.

• Distributors: Distributors take the role of go-betweens who link pigment manufacturers with a diverse client base that spans small-scale and regional industries. This option is the main source of the logistical support, warehousing, and local modification of pigments by the channel. Rising demand in emerging markets has contributed to the role of distributors in the field. For example, the cooperation between the DIC Corporation and the IMCD Group, which was announced in April 2025, is aimed at the European and Southeast Asian pigment distribution networks to make the pigments more accessible to medium-sized ink and coating producers. The increasing complexity of pigment formulations and the need for regional customization make distributors the only way to open up new markets.

• Online Retailers: The online retail channels for pigments have experienced an exponential rise, which is attributable mainly to their digitalization that has made accessing certified pigment materials in both bulk and small amounts by the buyers very convenient. The establishment of e-commerce and B2B pigment platforms such as Alibaba, ChemDirect, and PigmentStore has democratized access to Phthalocyanine Blue for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and research institutions worldwide. A good example is ChemDirect reporting a 30% increase in blue pigment orders from SMEs producing ecologically friendly paints and 3D printing materials in June 2025. The people who are involved in the process of the online purchasing of goods are the ones who usually benefit from the fact that the pricing is available and that the awareness of the pigment certifications has been increasing (such as REACH and RoHS). Consequently, it led to the rise of digital sale models especially in North America and Europe.

• Specialty Stores: Specialty stores are the ones that cater to a small audience of artists, educators, and custom manufacturers who are potential buyers of Phthalocyanine Blue pigments of different grades of purity and in various forms. Not only are these stores crucial for exclusive and top-notch pigment products for creative industries, but they are also the backbone of them. To name a recent example, Winsor & Newton in May 2025, expanded its retail footprint across the Asia-Pacific region, launching a new Phthalocyanine Blue pigment line for fine art with a colourfastness rating of 8 on the Blue Wool Scale (indicating excellent light stability). The segment’s growth is supported by the rising trend of sustainable and artist-grade pigments and the gradual consumer shift toward premium, environmentally friendly materials.

Historical Context

Phthalocyanine Blue are presently mainly utilizable for the production of industrial materials with basic colouring properties of paints and plastics. The low purity of products, uneven dispersion, and low variability of shades seriously hinder the production of processes which caused phthalocyanine blue to be mainly implemented in standard applications. But a revolution in the Phthalocyanine Blue Market has come into being with the breakthrough in pigment chemistry, nanotechnology, and sustainable manufacturing. The new phthalocyanine blue pigments maintain the highest levels of heat stability, lightfastness, and weather resistance thus expanding their use in the field of high-performance coatings, the finishing of the automotive sector, and advanced polymers.

In the future, the market will be more and more dependent on the trend of eco-friendly pigment formulations, digital printing technology, and bio-based alternatives. The trend of one industry demanding sustainable and durable colourants for another industry will be the main force of development e.g., packaging, textiles, and cosmetics will indubitably be the driving force behind the aforementioned sectors, and as a result Phthalocyanine Blue will become the basic component of the future high-performance and environmentally friendly pigment material.

Impact of Recent Tariff Policies

Phthalocyanine Blue Market has been greatly influenced by tariffs that have changed the trade relationships, the cost structures and the production strategies. Among the recent trade measures, the anti-dumping duties imposed by China on phthalocyanine pigments of Indian origin with the rate going between 10.5% and 27.9% in 2023 have been the most impactful in terms of the compression of the affordability of these pigments in one of the largest pigment-consuming markets globally. Consequently, importers in China are facing higher landed costs and a decrease in profit margins and are compelled to make a transition to domestic or other Asian suppliers. On the contrary, the imposition of countervailing duties on certain Chinese pigment imports in June 2025 (ranging from 11.18% to 25.76%) has led to the injection of more pressure on downstream industries such as plastics, inks, and coatings.

This escalation of tariffs is leading to a separation of the global pigment supply chain, and companies such as Sudarshan Chemical Industries and Heubach Group are turning to regional manufacturing or the diversification of sourcing to lessen the exposure to them. At the same time, the stricter environmental import requirements of the European Union, as well as the tariff-linked compliance provisions, are causing the rise of production costs, more especially for pigment intermediates with copper phthalocyanine. Although these trade policies aimed at protecting the local manufacturers are the cause of the industry’s lack of innovation and slower transition to eco-friendly and sustainable pigment formulations. At the end of the day, tariffs are changing the affordability, accessibility, and competitiveness of the global Phthalocyanine Blue ecosystem—unveiling localization, technology, and cost optimization strategy reconsideration among the producers.

Report Scope

Regional Analysis

North America: The Phthalocyanine Blue Market in North America represents a major portion of the global market, being the area with the most advanced industrial infrastructure, the most stable regulatory frameworks, and a distribution network that is highly developed. The demand is driven by the automotive industry for coatings, industrial paints, plastics, and printing inks, where manufacturers focus on pigments that are both high performance and environmentally friendly. In addition, the region’s position is also solidified by high-level R&D, the widespread practice of using waterborne and low-VOC formulations, and the existence of pigment producers who operate globally. For example, in 2025, Sun Chemical Corp. expanded its Ohio production facility by investing USD 30 million to meet the growing demand for sustainable pigments.

• US: In the United States, various factors such as robust industrial demand and the innovation of high-durability coatings lead to the extensive use of the product. The market is led by automotive refinishing, industrial paints, and packaging plastics. For example, PPG Industries started the production of waterborne Phthalocyanine Blue dispersions in May 2025, leading to an increase in production efficiency by 15% as well as enabling compliance with EPA low-VOC standards.

• Canada: The market in Canada is such that, on the one hand, it is assisted by environmentally stringent regulations, and on the other, it is kept going by the rising decorative coatings, plastics, and printing sectors. For example, in March 2025, Cromachem Ltd. established a blending facility in Toronto to improve the local supply of high-purity Phthalocyanine Blue pigments for coatings and industrial applications.

Europe: The European market for pigments is fundamentally impacted by the rigorous regulations set by the EU in terms of chemical safety, environmental sustainability, and high standards in the industrial field. The demand is largely driven by automotive coatings, plastics, inks, and textiles, where the use of eco-friendly pigments is becoming increasingly important. To illustrate this, BASF SE rolled out energy-saving manufacturing methods for Phthalocyanine Blue in their German plant in June 2025 that led to a 28% reduction in CO₂ emissions and also ensured compliance with REACH standards.

• Germany: Germany continues to occupy the top spot for high-performance coatings and automotive applications. A case in point is the collaboration between Clariant AG and Covestro in February 2025 when they developed heat-resistant Phthalocyanine Blue formulations for car interiors.

• UK: Currently, decorative coatings, packaging, and industrial inks drive the market in the UK. As an example, the Heubach Group introduced a pollution-free pigment series in April 2025, reducing heavy metal content by 90% to make them the safest application of consumer products.

• France: France is the leader in the applications of pigments for cosmetics, coatings, and other decorative purposes. One instance could be L’Oréal that uses ultra-pure Phthalocyanine Blue pigments for their eco-cosmetic products which are in line with the strict EU safety and sustainability norms in 2025.

Asia-Pacific: Asia-Pacific has the most rapidly expanding regional market which is mainly due to the growth in India, China, and Japan. The demand is coming from the industrial sector, textiles, automotive coatings, and printing inks. The rise in environmental awareness and the adoption of eco-friendly manufacturing practices are influencing the use of pigments. For example, Sudarshan Chemical Industries inaugurated a pigment plant with a capacity of 12,000 tons in India in July 2025, thus not only facilitating domestic supply but also exports.

• Japan: Japan relies heavily on the advanced pigment R&D, where automotive coatings and industrial applications are the areas of focus. A case such as Dainichiseika Colour & Chemicals is indeed telling where in March 2025 they introduced the nanotechnology-based UV-stable Phthalocyanine Blue pigments which led to a 30 percent increase in the durability of the pigments.

• China: China is among the top pigment exporters globally. It has a very strong demand mainly for coatings, plastics, and packaging. As an example, Changzhou Longyu Pigment Co. has modernized its wastewater treatment facilities in April 2025 to not only reduce the discharge of the effluent by 45 percent but also to extend their production capacity.

• India: The growth of the Indian market is supported by the establishment of local manufacturers and cost-efficient pigment solutions. For example, Pidilite Industries developed industrial-grade Phthalocyanine Blue pigments in May 2025 which have the advantages of availability in urban and semi-urban areas as well as lowering import dependence by 20%.

LAMEA: LAMEA Phthalocyanine Blue Market is unfolding at a slow pace due to factors such as industrial modernization, infrastructure expansion, and growing demand for coatings, plastics, and printing inks. The accessibility and affordability of the product are being facilitated by government and NGO programs. For example, Brenntag set up a pigment distribution center in Dubai in June 2025 which would improve the regional supply for the coatings and plastics applications.

• Brazil: The market in Brazil is substantially supported by industrial coatings, automotive paints, and packaging applications. A particular case is the launch by Oxiteno S.A. in April 2025 of bio-based dispersants for Phthalocyanine Blue which gave the product the stability and compliance that are necessary for solvent-free coatings.

• South Africa: South Africa exploits the growth of urban industrial sectors as well as NGO interventions. For example, Ferro SA embarked on local pigment synthesis in May 2025, thus anticipated to raise local supply by 25%, especially for industrial and decorative coatings.

Key Developments

The Phthalocyanine Blue Market has undergone a number of important developments over the last couple of years as participants in the industry look to expand their geographic footprint and enhance their product offering and profitability by leveraging synergies.

• In May 2025, BASF brought to the European market a new pigment named Eco Pigment Blue 15:3 for waterborne coatings that is capable of providing high-performance color strength and having low VOC content, as well as being compliant with REACH environmental standards.

• In June 2025, DIC Corporation launched micro-dispersed Phthalocyanine Blue pigments for automotive coatings. By the introduction of these pigments, the uniformity of color, increased scratch resistance, and heat stability for industrial applications have been achieved.

• In July 2025, Sudarshan Chemical Industries raised its production capacity in Dahej, India, with the plan to supply the local market as well as the foreign one, thus being able to meet the demand that is increasing in paints, plastics, and specialty inks.

• In June 2025, Clariant introduced its sustainable pigment line for digital printing inks, which is primarily aimed at water-based formulations with metal-free Phthalocyanine Blue, targeting the packaging and textile sectors.

• In July 2025, Heubach Group released a synthetic Phthalocyanine Blue powder with a high degree of purity tailored for cosmetic applications that has improved dispersion and stability for personal care products.

• In May 2025, Vibrantz Technologies worked with European coating manufacturers to trial low-VOC, eco-friendly blue pigments in large-scale industrial applications, thus showing color consistency and meeting environmental regulations.

These activities have allowed the companies to further develop their product portfolios and sharpen their competitive edge to capitalize on the available growth opportunities in the Phthalocyanine Blue Market.

Leading Players

The Phthalocyanine Blue Market is moderately consolidated, dominated by large-scale players with infrastructure and government support. Some of the key players in the market include:

• DIC Corporation / Sun Chemical
• BASF (Heliogen / Colours & Effects lines)
• Clariant
• Heubach Group
• Sudarshan Chemical Industries
• Vibrantz Technologies
• Meghmani Organics Limited
• Lona Industries Limited
• Dhanveen Pigments (Dhanveen)
• Ramdev Chemical Industries
• Anupam Colours (AnuColour)
• Qualitron Chemicals
• Dayang Chem (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd.
• Xiamen Hisunny Chemical Co. Ltd.
• Shree Siddhivinayak Industries (Shree Siddhivinayak Group)
• Afine Chemicals Limited
• Krima Sil Pvt. Ltd.
• First Continental International
• Ranbar / Ranbarr (phthalocyanine pigment product lines)
• Shanghai Feiyan Industrial Development Co. Ltd.
• Others

Phthalocyanine Blue Market at a moderately consolidated level is a place where global leaders, regional manufacturers, and specialized startups come together. The large multinationals that have extensive distribution networks and are equipped with strong R&D capabilities greatly influence the market of high-performance and eco-friendly pigment production. For example, the companies BASF, Clariant, PPG Industries, Sun Chemical, and Venator Materials are going to the lead of the line of application in the areas of automotive coatings, industrial paints, plastics, and printing inks by the implementation of advanced technologies such as waterborne dispersions, UV-stable pigments, and low-VOC formulations.

While that is the case, niche players and startups are the ones to energize the innovation of specialty and sustainable pigment solutions with technology such as bio-based dispersions, nanotechnology-enhanced Phthalocyanine Blue, and eco-friendly formulations for decorative coatings and cosmetics. An example would be Sudarshan Chemical Industries and Heubach Group, which have not only started the production of localized lines of pigments in 2025 but also low-impact pigment lines to solve the problems of affordability and environmental compliance.

This is a market that heavily relies on technology where product innovation, regulatory compliance, environmental sustainability, and price-performance are the main drivers of competitiveness. The level of difficulties in entering is such that it is necessary to have pigment synthesis facilities that are capital-intensive, have the required quality certifications, and are in compliance with REACH or EPA standards. Joint ventures with coating manufacturers, packaging companies, and government programs are also a source of this facilitation. Basically, the market indicates a balance between the established strengths of multinational companies and the entrance of innovative disruptors, with pricing, eco-compliance, technological sophistication, and distribution reach being the leading factors of competition.

The Phthalocyanine Blue Market is segmented as follows:

End-Use Industry

• Paints & Coatings
• Plastics
• Pulp & Paper
• Textiles
• Cosmetics & Personal Care
• Printing Inks

By Product Formulation

• Water-Soluble Phthalocyanine Blue
• Oil-Soluble Phthalocyanine Blue
• Powder Form
• Liquid Form

By Quality Grade

• Standard Grade
• High Grade
• Food Grade
• Eco-Friendly Grade

By Application Type

• Architectural Coatings
• Industrial Coatings
• Automotive Coatings
• Graphic Arts Applications
• Specialty Applications

By Distribution Channel

• Direct Sales
• Distributors
• Online Retailers
• Specialty Stores

Regional Coverage:

North America

• U.S.
• Canada
• Mexico
• Rest of North America

Europe

• Germany
• France
• U.K.
• Russia
• Italy
• Spain
• Netherlands
• Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

• China
• Japan
• India
• New Zealand
• Australia
• South Korea
• Taiwan
• Rest of Asia Pacific

The Middle East & Africa

• Saudi Arabia
• UAE
• Egypt
• Kuwait
• South Africa
• Rest of the Middle East & Africa

Latin America

• Brazil
• Argentina
• Rest of Latin America