Global Book Publishing - Market Size, Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecasts (2024-2029)

Global book publishers have had their fair share of ups and downs stemming from volatile economic conditions and changing consumer preferences. The pandemic slowed physical print releases as supply chains were disrupted and publishers were forced to operate at a limited capacity. While physical bookstores were closed, online retailers could still deliver books directly to consumers' doorsteps, preventing publishers from facing a significant drop-off. Even so, smaller publishers that couldn't keep up were forced to exit because of low profitability. As the effects of the pandemic waned, book publishers faced higher paper prices, causing an uptick in the prices they charged consumers. Still, rising reading activity carried over and consumers were out and about in physical bookstores. Revenue has pushed up at a CAGR of 0.3% through the end of 2024, reaching $151.9 billion, including a 1.1% uptick in 2024 alone.

Trends and Insights

• As countries enhance their education systems, new publishers emerge to meet their needs.
• Government funding is a crucial catalyst, increasing textbook sales and fostering a reading culture. Fiction and nonfiction books continue to make up the bulk of industry revenue.
• The growth of social media continues to bring certain books into the limelight, essentially acting as free marketing and bolstering sales. North Asia has a long and rich history of literature.
• Readers in these countries consume a plethora of fiction and nonfiction texts. They also purchase translation materials to help integrate themselves into international businesses. Smaller publishers can carve out a place in the industry but take significant risks.
• They must pay more for printing and materials since they have not established economies of scale. This has led to various digital-only publishers.

Industry Overview

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 0.3 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $151.9bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Disruptions cause issues for smaller publishers During the pandemic, many bricks-and-mortar book publishers were forced to close their offices or operate at limited capacity, severely hindering production. Many popular titles were pushed back as supply chain disruptions caused a delay in print runs.

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

• Untapped markets provide a spark
• In emerging markets, per capita spending on books is set to spike amid rising income levels, education, literacy and the surging availability of less expensive digital publications.