WhatTheyThink Three Part Report Provides Outlook For The Global Printing Industry

July 28th, 2008 - Lexington, KY - WhatTheyThink, the leading online media organization serving the printing and publishing industry, today announced the availability of the recently published series from PRIMIR/NPES entitled “The World-Wide Market for Print 2006-2011.”  The research was conducted by UK’s Pira International.  The first report identifies and profiles 51 country markets that essentially account for 99% of the global print market.  The second report explores those markets and identifies the markets for printing equipment, paper and supplies.  The final report rolls up the findings from the first two phases, identifies and profiles eleven key emerging or developing markets, and provides a global forecast as well as forecasts for each print market including forecasts for equipment, paper and consumables markets through 2011.

The first report identifies and profiles 51 country markets that essentially account for 99% of the global print market.
World-Wide Market for Print: Phase I Report

The second report explores those markets and identifies the markets for printing equipment, paper and supplies.
World-Wide Market for Print: Phase II Report

The final report rolls up the findings from the first two phases, identifies and profiles eleven key emerging or developing markets, and provides a global forecast as well as forecasts for each print market including forecasts for equipment, paper and consumables markets through 2011.
World-Wide Market for Print: Phase III Report

The reports are available for immediate purchase at:

World-Wide Market for Print: Phase I Report
World-Wide Market for Print: Phase II Report
World-Wide Market for Print: Phase III Report

According to the study, the global print market is forecast to grow by 18% to US$721 billion by 2011, with fastest growth in developing/emerging countries.

Not surprising, Pira’s research shows that the consolidation and contraction in the number of active printers that characterized the global printing industry over the last five years will continue to prevail. These changes will be driven by slower growth rates in demand for print, along with some significant changes in the technology and printing processes used in the industry. Freer trading, and the emergence of printing companies in Asia targeting markets in both North America and Western Europe, will have a growing impact on the printing industries in developed regions.  Expect to see some relocation or expansion of production facilities from developed regions to emerging markets to capitalize on growth opportunities.

Developments in all aspects of printing technology will help keep print competitive within the overall media mix by enabling printers to offer targeted, high quality, innovative products as cost-effective alternatives to non-print, electronic media. Printing technology developments will be particularly important in developed regions, since it is in these markets that the impact from alternative electronic media will be most quickly, and significantly, felt.

Digital printing processes, both electrophotographic and inkjet, will continue to grow ahead of all other sectors.  By 2011, the combined share of the market held by digital printing processes will be 21%.

Environmental pressures on all printing industries will grow over the next five years, but will be more intense in developed regions. Compliance will certainly have cost implications, and may put printers in developed regions at a competitive disadvantage compared to printers in the developing/emerging markets.

The future shape of the printing industries in the emerging markets is more difficult to assess. What is certain, however, is that the output from these industries will grow much faster than that from those in developed regions. As literacy rates rise, and per capita income increases in developing markets, demand for various print products will explode.  The report also reveals that in many developing regions, electronic displacement will lag since Internet access is far behind that of developed regions.  This is a temporary advantage for print growth in those regions.

According to the authors, in the printing industry, as elsewhere, there are some wildcard factors. In this marketplace, the speed of development of inkjet printing and hybrid technology, and also the effect of environmental pressures are key. Given significantly faster rates of development than envisioned, both these factors could significantly change the structure of the printing industries in both developed regions and emerging markets.

About WhatTheyThink

WhatTheyThink is the printing and publishing industry's leading online media organization; offering a wide range of publications delivering unbiased, real-time market intelligence, industry news, economic and trend analysis, peer-to-peer communication, and special reports on emerging technology and critical events. Serving a membership base of more than 50,000, WhatTheyThink also hosts webinars and live events as well as providing content through a syndication program, which delivers content directly to related websites and through RSS. The organization also provides consulting and speakers bureau services to the industry.

About PRIMIR

The Print Industries Market Information and Research Organization (PRIMIR), provides in-depth research and analysis for the graphic communications industry.  PRIMIR research is funded by member dues as well as through support from NPES.  PRIMIR annually provides over $600,000 in current research studies including relevant market data and detailed information on graphic arts and related fields.  Members also benefit from meetings, market research skills building, and robust networking opportunities.

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