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Newspaper Printing in Germany - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Lukas Barth Lukas Barth Frankfurt, Germany Last Updated: January 2024 WZ C18.11DE

Revenue

€954.7m

2024

€889.9m

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€XX.Xm

Employees

7,078

Businesses

63

Wages

€XXX.Xm

Newspaper Printing in Germany industry analysis

Newspapers and other printed publications that appear at least four times a week are printed in this sector. In contrast to other printing sectors, where digital printing is on the rise, newspaper printing still mainly uses the indirect flat printing process of offset printing. The demand for printed newspapers has been declining steadily for several years due to the advancing digitalisation and the resulting change in consumer and publisher behaviour. This trend was further intensified in 2020 by the measures taken to contain the coronavirus pandemic and has contributed to a sharp decline in sales. With more people working from home and fewer commuters travelling as a result, significantly fewer printed newspapers were sold. In the current year, industry sales are expected to fall by 1.7% to 954.7 million euros. In the period from 2018 to 2023, revenue in newspaper printing fell by an average of 6.5% per year.The only clients of the companies in this sector are the newspaper publishers. In recent years, they have felt the effects of increasing digitalisation in the form of falling sales figures and have reacted by printing smaller print runs. As a result of digitalisation, consumers are increasingly using the Internet as a source of information. The change in consumer behaviour has put publishers under pressure and they are increasingly shifting their offerings from printed to digital newspaper editions and additional online content. As a result, the volume of print orders continues to decline, which is having a negative impact on print shops' sales. At the same time, rising paper prices have put pressure on the profit margins of industry players in recent years. As paper, together with ink, is the most important input factor in newspaper printing, the industry's material costs often rise in line with the producer price for paper. Due to the declining demand for print products, there has also been an acute shortage of waste paper since last year, which is having a particularly severe impact on the industry as newsprint is primarily made from waste paper fibres.For the period from 2023 to 2028, IBISWorld anticipates an average decline in revenue of 5.5% per year to EUR 719.2 million in 2028. This development is due to the expected further decline in demand for print media in the future and the resulting decline in order volumes for newspaper printers. This declining order volume is likely to lead to further overcapacity and thus be the reason for the falling number of industry players over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

  • The shift in the newspaper business from print to digital poses challenges for the industry. Only in the case of regional daily newspapers and tabloids is demand for printed editions likely to remain somewhat more stable.
  • Local and regional subscription newspapers are the highest-revenue product group in the industry. Strong customer loyalty contributes to the fact that circulation figures for regional newspapers are more stable than for national publications.
  • Most print shops are based in the centre of the region, which is due to the presence of numerous newspaper publishers and the large potential readership.
  • The newspaper business is increasingly shifting from the print to the digital sector. Almost all newspaper content is now also available online, which poses a major challenge for the newspaper printing industry.

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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 6.5 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €954.7m in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The digital information offering is becoming increasingly popular

  • The newspaper industry has changed fundamentally in recent years as a result of advancing digitalisation. The amount of free information available on the internet is constantly increasing and news is increasingly being consumed on smartphones or tablets. This means that news can be read, listened to or watched at any time, even when on the move.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Newspaper Printing in Germany
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

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

Trends and Insights

The willingness to pay for digital content is likely to increase in future

  • In the coming years, technology and the use of the internet and other media are likely to evolve and bring about changes in consumer behaviour.

Biggest companies in the Newspaper Printing in Germany

Company
Market Share (%)
2023
Revenue (€m)
2023
Axel Springer SE
28.9
Südwestdeutsche Medienholding GmbH
26.3
Frankfurter Societät GmbH
26.2

To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Newspaper Printing in Germany
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Local and regional subscription newspapers, National subscription newspapers and Newspapers for sale. Local and regional subscription newspapers is the largest segment of the Newspaper Printing in Germany.

Trends and Insights

Local and regional subscription newspapers enjoy a loyal readership

  • The large number of local and regional subscription newspapers makes this product group the strongest-selling in the industry.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This sector includes the printing of newspapers and other periodicals that are published at least four times a week. Only the printing, but not the publishing or distribution of newspapers is included in this sector. The printing of magazines, brochures and other print products is also not included in this sector.

What's included in this industry?

Local and regional subscription newspapersNational subscription newspapersNewspapers for saleWeekly and Sunday newspapers

Companies

Axel Springer SESüdwestdeutsche Medienholding GmbHFrankfurter Societät GmbH

Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

CIRCULATIONOFFSET PRINTING

Industry Code

WZ 2008

WZ 18.11 - Newspaper Printing in Germany

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

The shift in the newspaper business from print to digital poses challenges for the industry. Only in the case of regional daily newspapers and tabloids is demand for printed ...

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

Local and regional subscription newspapers are the highest-revenue product group in the industry. Strong customer loyalty contributes to the fact that circulation figures for...

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

Most print shops are based in the centre of the region, which is due to the presence of numerous newspaper publishers and the large potential readership.

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 Europe, 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 newspaper business is increasingly shifting from the print to the digital sector. Almost all newspaper content is now also available online, which poses a major challenge...

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

There are no major players in the industry. The largest print shops are subsidiaries of publishing houses or entire media groups.

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 Axel Springer SE's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Südwestdeutsche Medienholding GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Frankfurter Societät GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Axel Springer SE, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Südwestdeutsche Medienholding GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Frankfurter Societät GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company

External Environment

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

Analyst insights

The advancing digitalisation poses a risk for the industry. Printed newspapers are increasingly being replaced by online offerings.

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

Personnel costs are the biggest cost factor in the industry. The automation of production processes should reduce the need for personnel in the future.

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 Newspaper Printing industry in Germany in 2024?

The market size of the Newspaper Printing industry in Germany is €954.7m in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Newspaper Printing in Germany industry in 2024?

There are 63 businesses in the Newspaper Printing industry in Germany, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Newspaper Printing industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Newspaper Printing industry in Germany has been declining at a CAGR of 6.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Newspaper Printing industry in Germany over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Newspaper Printing industry in Germany is expected to decline.

What are the biggest companies in the Newspaper Printing market in Germany?

The biggest companies operating in the Newspaper Printing market in Germany are Axel Springer SE, Südwestdeutsche Medienholding GmbH and Frankfurter Societät GmbH

What does the Newspaper Printing in Germany include?

Local and regional subscription newspapers and National subscription newspapers are part of the Newspaper Printing industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Newspaper Printing in Germany?

The company holding the most market share in Germany is Axel Springer SE.

How competitive is the Newspaper Printing industry in Germany?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Newspaper Printing industry in Germany.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • There are no industries to display.

Complementors

  • Newspaper Publishing in Germany

International industries

  • Printing in the US
  • Printing in Canada
  • Printing in Australia
  • Printing in New Zealand
  • Newspaper Printing in the UK

View all industries in Germany

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 Germany include:

  • German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
  • European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
  • United Nations Comtrade

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.