About this Report
The European Print Industry sizing 2024 aims at providing independent data on the size of the printing industry in Europe. It is based on statistical data, data from associations, industry experts and lists and includes estimates and projections.
The report consists of three easy-to-use Excel pivot tables, which allow for a comfortable selection and analysis of the data. An accompanying PowerPoint presentation provides explanations and definitions. Additional insight can be booked as a webinar or on-site presentation.
The last year containing actual data is 2022. If no year is stated, the data refers to 2022.
Data for the number of Enterprises has been modified to reflect only active companies.
This aims also at removing any national accounting bias, to make data comparable across the European countries.
Count of companies is by enterprise. An enterprise can have multiple production sites.
Currency is Euro – conversions were made at the average annual rates or by the source of data.
Keep in mind that statistical data relies on sampling and industry definitions, changes can lead to fluctuations year-over-year.
Summary
The European printing industry is big, no doubt. However, it is a surprisingly difficult task to determine how big the printing industry in Europe actually is. The available data is incomplete, non-comparable, or even non-existent. As a result, gaps have to be filled in, data normalised (to make it comparable), different sourced reconciled, and overlaps in segments sorted out. In short, some in-depth industry expertise is required. Digitalprintexpert.de undertook a 2024 European Print Industry Sizing based on the latest data, facilitated by 20 years of experience in print industry sizing by Ralf Schlözer.
Considering all segments or print markets, the European printing industry had revenues of about €170 bn in 2022. The total European print revenues have been surprisingly stable in recent years, by balancing revenue declines in Western Europe with the revenue gains in Eastern Europe, stemming from demand increases and exports into Western Europe. The exception has been the pandemic year of 2020 with a decisive decline, followed by a recovery in 2021 and especially in 2022. It should be kept in mind, however, that 2022 revenues are bolstered by a high inflation rate driven by energy, paper, and supplies prices. These have been passed on to the customers. The higher prices have an adverse effect on demand however, so we will not only see a demand decline but also a price erosion driving revenues lower in the coming years, especially in commercial print.
The data has been compiled from a variety of sources, complemented by estimates and forecasts, and formatted in a way to make all countries and segments comparable. Excel pivot tables allow for straightforward comparisons and custom selections, instead of having to copy and paste pre-defined tables. The data is based on the year 2022, the most recent year for which a sufficient data basis is available.
Covered in the report are the following countries:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
The data includes:
- Graphic arts industry, split by Graphic arts print, newspaper print, prepress, and finishing
- for revenue, number of establishments and employment
- historical data since 2012 and forecast to 2030
- Number of graphic arts companies by size classes
– size classes of below 10 employees, 10 to 19, 20 to 49, 50 to 249, and 250+ employees
– historical data from 2012 to 2022 in 2-year increments
- Full print industry sizing for the year 2022 by the number of establishments and revenue, the following segments:
– graphic arts industry, split by Graphic arts print, newspaper print, prepress and postpress
– Packaging print split by folding carton, flexible packaging, corrugated and label print
– Photocopying services
– In-house printing (as estimates)