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Bookstores in China - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

IBISWorld IBISWorld Beijing, China Last Updated: November 2024 6543

Revenue

$16.6bn

2024

$16.6bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

422k

Businesses

11,722

Wages

$X.Xbn

Bookstores in China industry analysis

The Bookstores industry in China has performed steadily over the past five years. Industry revenue is expected to increase an annualized 1.5% over the five years through 2024, which includes a 6.3% increase in the current year. Prior to this recovery, China's strict restrictive policy on the COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected physical bookstores' sales, leading declines in industry revenue in the few years prior.
The offline bookstore market is shrinking. Online bookstores are crowding out the market share of offline bookstores based on price advantages. For consumers, delivery to home, online payment, and other shopping methods are more convenient. The price transparency of the online platform also facilitates consumers to choose books with the most price advantage. Short video ecommerce channels continue to seize the market. Bookstores use live streaming to promote book sales. Some live-streaming rooms can sell tens of thousands of books in a few minutes. The bookstore is upgrading its original sales model to attract more customers. More bookstores began to use instant retail and short video to gain more customers and expand sales.
In the past five years, the competition between physical bookstores, traditional online bookstores, and bookstores on the short video platform has become more intense. The online shopping segment is anticipated to grow steadily over the next five years. Overall, industry revenue is forecast to grow an annualized 2.6% over the five years through 2029. The industry has a medium level of concentration. The top four companies in the industry are expected to account for 59.3% of industry revenue in 2024. With the intensification of competition, consolidation of the industry will increase.

Trends and Insights

  • Repeated COVID-19 pandemic has negative impacts on the industry. The pandemic, with its associated lockdowns, social distancing measures and suppressed buying willingness, has led to a declined revenue in the industry.
  • Children’s books account for the largest proportion. With the increasing attention to early childhood education, parents are more willing to buy books for their children, increasing the demand for this segment.
  • Central cities of China hold high book demand. The developed economy and high education of central cities supports high bookstore demand.
  • The industry has a medium concentration level. The top four industry participants will take a joint market share of 59.3% in 2024.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.5 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $16.6bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Repeated COVID-19 pandemic has negative impacts on the industry

  • China's strict restrictive policy on COVID-19 pandemic requires that stores be temporarily closed or the number of consumers per day be limited.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Bookstores in China
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

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

Trends and Insights

Economic recovery will end the declines of industry revenue

  • With the relaxation of restrictions on COVID-19 pandemic at the end of 2022, China's domestic economy is recovering. Consumption will gradually recover.

Biggest companies in the Bookstores in China

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
JD.com, Inc.
4,409.3
Beijing Dangdang Information Technology Co., Ltd.
2,188.1
Alibaba Group Holding Limited
2,088.6

To view the market share and analysis for all 10 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Bookstores in China
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Children's books, Educational books and Literature and arts books. Children's books is the largest segment of the Bookstores in China.

Trends and Insights

Children's books account for the largest proportion

  • Children's books are the most popular commodities. In 2024, children's books will account for 32.6%.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Bookstores in China are mainly engaged in the retailing of printed books online and in physical locations.

What's included in this industry?

Children's booksEducational booksLiterature and arts booksNatural science and technology booksSocial science and philosophy booksOther books

Companies

JD.com, Inc.Beijing Dangdang Information Technology Co., Ltd.Alibaba Group Holding Limited

Purchase this report to view all 10 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

PIRATED BOOKSREGIONAL BOOK DISTRIBUTION GROUPSEDUCATIONAL BOOKS

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Repeated COVID-19 pandemic has negative impacts on the industry. The pandemic, with its associated lockdowns, social distancing measures and suppressed buying willingness, ha...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Children’s books account for the largest proportion. With the increasing attention to early childhood education, parents are more willing to buy books for their children, inc...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Central cities of China hold high book demand. The developed economy and high education of central cities supports high bookstore demand.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

The industry has a medium concentration level. The top four industry participants will take a joint market share of 59.3% in 2024.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Online bookstores dominate the industry. The top five companies are all online ecommerce platforms. They have captured a substantial market share due to their extensive inven...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of JD.com, Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Beijing Dangdang Information Technology Co., Ltd.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Alibaba Group Holding Limited's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 7 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for JD.com, Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Beijing Dangdang Information Technology Co., Ltd., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Alibaba Group Holding Limited, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 7 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The industry has a medium regulation level. The Government has established development guidance and regulations to support the industry sustainable growth.

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The industry profit margin is low and decreasing. Fierce competition and high discounts from online bookstores offer have squeezed profit margins.

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Bookstores industry in China in 2024?

The market size of the Bookstores industry in China is $16.6bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Bookstores in China industry in 2024?

There are 11,722 businesses in the Bookstores industry in China, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.8 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Bookstores industry in China grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Bookstores industry in China has been growing at a CAGR of 1.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Bookstores industry in China over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Bookstores industry in China is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Bookstores market in China?

The biggest companies operating in the Bookstores market in China are JD.com, Inc., Beijing Dangdang Information Technology Co., Ltd. and Alibaba Group Holding Limited

What does the Bookstores in China include?

Children's books and Educational books are part of the Bookstores industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Bookstores in China?

The company holding the most market share in China is JD.com, Inc..

How competitive is the Bookstores industry in China?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Bookstores industry in China.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • There are no industries to display.

Complementors

  • Book, Magazine and Periodical Printing in China
  • Book Publishing in China
  • Magazine and Periodical Publishing in China

International industries

  • Book Stores in the US
  • Book Stores in Canada
  • Newsagents and Book Retailers in Australia
  • Newspaper and Book Retailing in New Zealand
  • Book Retailers in the UK

View all industries in China

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in China include:

  • National Bureau of Statistics China
  • General Administration of Customs
  • People’s Bank of China

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.