The announced economic recovery is also slow in coming in the printing industry. Although there are initial signs of stabilisation, the bottom line remains sobering. Sales in the printing and media industry are declining again.
The printing and media industry continues to be under considerable economic pressure. Although the intensity of the decline is easing, there is no sign of a real recovery. Developments in the first half of 2025 give cause for cautious optimism, but remain dependent on the overall economic situation.
Nominal total sales in the industry fell by an average of nine per cent in 2024 compared to the previous year, accelerating the decline compared to 2023. The difference is largely due to price effects, and price-adjusted figures show a slight easing.
Domestic business weaker than foreign business
Domestic sales fell slightly more sharply than foreign sales in 2024, at minus nine per cent. At the operational level, however, sales development is distorted by special effects. Large orders from outside the industry in November 2023 distorted the basis for comparison. If these effects are factored out, the result at the level of the technical operating units is a more realistic decline of just under seven per cent.
Sectors with varying degrees of intensity
In 2024, sales continued to decline across all sectors. The declines were particularly pronounced in print finishing and newspaper printing. In pre-press, a special effect from 2023 led to a distorted basis. Adjusted for non-print orders, the decline here is around ten percent. The division with the highest sales, printing of other products, recorded a moderate decline of 6.6 per cent.
Ray of hope in 2025
In the first half of 2025, the stabilisation trend is expected to continue. Nominal sales rose by 0.3 per cent. However, this growth is mainly attributable to foreign orders outside the core business. Foreign sales increased by around 32 per cent, while domestic sales fell by five per cent. Early indicators and the trend point to further stabilisation of the situation.
BVDM
The Federal Association of the Printing and Media Industry (BVDM) is the umbrella organisation of the German printing industry. As an employers’ association, political trade association and technical trade association, it represents the positions and objectives of the printing industry vis-à-vis politicians, administrators, trade unions and the supplier industry. The BVDM is supported by eight regional associations. Internationally, it is organised through its membership of Intergraf and FESPA.
