Turnover in the printing industry is recorded by the German Federal Statistical Office in more than just one statistic. Different statistics lead to different impressions and, due to the different data structures, not every statistic is suitable for reliable market analyses.
Comparing apples with pears
Anyone wishing to obtain information from the Federal Statistical Office about the economic development of different and their segments, you have more than just one statistic to choose from.
Looking at data on production values, the printing industry represented a sales volume of 12 billion euros in 2022. Alternatively, if you look at the statistics by economic sector, the sales volume is 21 billion euros. Which statistics a market analysis is based on is therefore of significant importance.
Recovery after Covid19 only a brief respite
The Covid crisis resulted in a slump in sales in 2020, from which the printing industry recovered impressively quickly: In 2022, the pre-Corona level was almost reached again. Unfortunately, this recovery is only temporary: the first signs of a veritable economic crisis are already visible in 2023, and the printing industry is not immune to it. The downward trends familiar from recent decades have gathered pace and will be even more serious in 2024. Apenberg & Partner expects this trend to continue in 2025, with the market shrinking by around ten per cent.
The overarching trend in the printing industry can also be seen in the advertising lettering sub-segment: The downward trend has been accelerating since 2023. The market volume of brochures in particular has been declining sharply since 2022. By 2025, it will have fallen to 1.2 billion euros, almost halving compared to 2022. The market volume of mailings increased by around 60 million euros to 307 million euros between 2019 and 2023. However, the market volume in this product segment has also been falling since 2023.
Apenberg
With the Print Business Consultants team, Apenberg & Partner has been advising medium-sized companies and groups in the printing industry since 1987. Clients are printers, publishers and the graphic supply industry. Apenberg & Partner provides support with strategic reorganisation, restructuring, company sales and the direct search for managers and specialists.
