China Printing Industries

Wang Demao

Vice Chairman Executive

PEIAC---Printing and Printing Equipment Industries Association of China

With the development of market economy, printing industries in China have become increasingly important and more and more dependent on the economy. It is proper to say that the printing industries are growing simultaneously with the economy. So it is better to introduce some data about China’s economy first.

China’s national economy is expanding rapidly and steadily

Diagram 1. The GDP of China. Since 1978 China’s economy has been increasing quickly and steadily. In recent 10 years its annual increase rate was around 10%. In 2007 the GDP of China reached 24953.0 Billion RMB Yuan with an annual growth rate of 11.9%.

Diagram 2. The Import and Export of China. In 2007 China had 1218 Billion USD for export and 955.8 Billion USD for import. The export was higher than the import. China already became the third largest export and import country in the world.

The Development of Printing

Printing Equipment and Material Industries in China

The statistic data (of Mainland China alone) are collected and gathered by Printing and Printing Equipment Industries Association of China (PEIAC). Hereafter the data of recent 6 years are provided.

Printing

With the development of the printing industry, the statistical projects may be increased. For 2007, the data of label printing, screen printing and big advertisement printing were provided first. Now 11 statistical items have been set up.

Diagram 3. The turnover of China’s printing. In the last 10 years or so, China’s printing industry has been developing rapidly with an annual growth rate of more than 10%. In 2007 alone the turnover of printing reached 440 Billion RMB Yuan. Actually there are more than 90,000 printing enterprises and companies in China with 3.9 million employees.

Diagram 4. The Sectors of Printing Industry of 2007. In 2007 the production value of package printing was 140 Billion RMB Yuan, which occupied 31.8% of total. It was the biggest segment of the industry.

Diagram 5. Prepress In 2007 the turnover of prepress was 22.5 Billion RMB Yuan.

Diagram 6. Book and periodical printing. In 2007 the turnover of book & periodical printing was 85 Billion RMB Yuan.

Diagram 7. Newspaper printing. The turnover of newspaper in 2007 was 55 Billion RMB Yuan.

Diagram 8. Package printing. In 2007 The turnover of package printing was 140 Billion RMB Yuan.

Diagram 9. Foreign trade printing. In 2007 the turnover of foreign trade printing was

41.5 Billion RMB Yuan.

Diagram 10, Commercial Printing. In 2007 The turnover of commercial printing was 16 Billion RMB Yuan,

Diagram 11. Note Book Printing. In 2007 the turnover of note book printing was 14 Billion RMB Yuan.

Diagram 12. Label Printing. In 2007 the turnover of label printing was 10 Billion RMB Yuan

Diagram 13. Screen Printing. The turnover of screen printing was 10 Billion RMB Yuan.

Diagram 14. Big Advertisement Printing. In 2007 the turnover of big advertisement printing was 5 Billion RMB Yuan.

Diagram 15. Other Printing. In 2007 the turnover of other printing was 41 Billion RMB Yuan

Printing Equipment

Diagram 16, the printing equipment. In 2007 the turnover of printing equipment was 17.5 Billion RMB Yuan.

Diagran17, the import and export of printing equipment. In 2007, it was 1630 Million USD for import and 614 Million USD for export. The import by far exceeded the export.

Printing Material

Diagram 18-1. The Annual Production and Consumption of Plate. In 2007 the production of plate was 241.55 million m² while the plate consumption was 162.94 million m².

Diagram 18-2. The Import and Export of PS Plate. In 2007 the volume of plate for export was 65.46 Million m², while that for import was 0.45 Million m². The export greatly exceeded the import.

Diagram 18-3. The Import & Export of PS Plate. The amount of CTP plate made & consumed in China is increasing quickly. In 2007 it reached 35.55 Million m² and 21.95 Million m² respectively.

Diagram 18-4. The Import and Export of CTP Plate. In 2007 its import was 4.20 million square meters while its export was 17.8 million square meters.

Diagram 19-1. The Production and Consumption of Film. In 2007, 13 million m² were produced while 88.49 million m² were consumed.

Diagram 19-2. The Import and Export of Film. In 2007 the import of film to China was 91.91 million m², while the export was 16.42 million m². The import to China was much higher than the export from China.

Diagram 20-1. The Production and Consumption of Ink. In 2007 the production of ink was 390 thousand tons but its consumption was 399 thousand tons.

Diagram 20-2. The Import and Export of Ink. In 2007 China imported 46.5 thousand tons of ink and exported 37.6 thousand tons.

Diagram 21-1. The Production and Consumption of Paper and Cardboard. In 2007 the production was 77.87million tons but China consumed 77.13 million tons.

Diagram 21-2. The Import and Export of Paper and Cardboard. In 2007 China imported 4.02 million tons of paper and cardboard while it exported only 4.76 million tons. The export is greater than the import.

Diagram 22. The Paper and Cardboard Consumed per Capita. In developed countries, the consumption of paper and cardboard is more than 300 kg per capita while in China it is only 59 kg per capita, which is less than 1 fifth of the former. This shows that the market expansion of China’s printing industry has enormous potentialities. Obviously, there is a large space to move up and a great potential to work out for China printing industry.

The Developments in Regions

Diagram 23. The Economic Regions in China. There are 6 economic regions in China, The Pearl River Delta, The Yangtze River Delta & Eastern Coast Region, Around Bohai Region, The Northeast Region, The West Region, The Middle Region.

Diagram 24. The Sectors of Printing Turnovers of Regions. In the coastal areas the printing industries are more developed. In the inland areas the printing industries are less so.

Coastal areas

Three printing industrial bases have already taken shape in the coastal areas. They are:

1. Pearl River Delta----Guangdong, Hainan, Hong Kong and Macao. The turnover of printing (in Guangdong Province alone) occupies 27.8% of the total.

2. Yangtze River Delta & Eastern Coast Region----Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian and Taiwan. Its turnover of printing (excluding Taiwan) occupies 33.2% of the total.

3. Around Bohai Region----Shandong, Hebei, Liaoning, Beijing, Tianjin----Its turnover of printing (excluding Liaoning) occupies 17.3% of the total.

These three bases are the foundations of China’s printing, as on these bases the printing industry of China will rapidly develop.

Inland areas

Along with the reviving of Northeast Region which is an old industrial base, the great developing drive of the West Region and the growing-up of the Middle Region, the inland printing industry will advance adequately.

3. Northeast Region---- Reviving. Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning----Its turnover of printing is 4.6% of that of the whole country.

4. West Region--- Great Opening up. Shaanxi, Guizhou, Guangxi, Yunnan, Sichuan, Chongqing, Tibet, Xinjiang, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia, Neimenggu----Its turnover of printing is 8.3% of that of the whole country.

5. Midle Region--- Growing up. Shanxi, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Anhui and Jiangxi----Its turnover of printing is 8.8% of that of the whole country.

The Future of China Printing Industries

The tendency on general

Digitizing, networking, diversification and quickness.

Digitizing, networking----Digital and network technology will penetrate every part of the whole printing process

Diversification ----The printing products will further develop in color and type;

Quickness----Quick printing on demand and streamlined delivery is a new goal for the printers.

Development on Technology

1. CTP technology is becoming more matured while computer to press will attract more attentions;

2. Digital printing and network printing will develop rapidly;

3. Offset printing still dominates the market;

4. Inkjet printing will have a relatively quick development;

5. Screen printing, flexo-printing and gravure printing will respectively advance step by step.

The Influence of Electro-Publication on Presswork

The electro-publication will develop quickly, and will bring an impingement upon the print-publication.

Along with the extensive use of the laptop computer, the rise of people’s economic conditions and the change of the people’s habitual practice, more and more people will choose more and more electro-publications instead of print-publications. Other presswork will not be affected.

Printing Exhibitions

Many printing exhibitions are stayed in China, but only two of them are international and most important. They are CHINA PRINT and PRINT CHINA.

● China Print

Chinn Print, Beijing International Printing Technology Exhibition, is the most famous international printing exhibition in China. Since 1984, China Print has been celebrated once every four years. China Print 2005 took place in May 11-15, 2005. 996 enterprises coming from 24 countries and regions took part in the event with their products, occupied 92,500 square meters of exhibition area. More over 160,000 visitors attended the show. China Print 2009 will be held at the New China International Exhibition Center, whose exhibition areas will exceed 120,000 square meters. More than 1000 exhibitors will show their products at the exhibition, and more than160, 000 visitors are expected to visit the event.

● Print China

Print China, China (Guangdong) International Printing Technology Exhibition, celebrates once every four years in springtime at Guangdong Modern Exhibition Center (GMEC), Dongguan City, Guangdong Province. The first Print China took place in April 10-14, 2007. It was very successful, 1047 companies from 15 countries and regions took part in, and occupied an exhibition area of 80, 000 square meters. More than 100, 000 visitors from 72 countries and regions attended the show. Print China 2011 will have over 1000 exhibitors and occupy more than 100, 000 square meters of exhibition area. Over 100, 000 visitors are expected to visit the show.

The Pearl River Delta (including the main part of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao) has been becoming an international printing base which alone dominates one third in the production value of the national printing industry. Guangdong, locating in the center of “10 ＋ 1” (10 countries of Southeast Asia and China) Economic Free Trade Zone, is going to be an essential component of this free trade region. In this region a large-sized international printing exhibition is in demand by the developing printing market. Print China has chimed in with this demand and will attract more and more visitors from Southeast Asia, South Asia, Middle East and Africa.

● China Presswork

China Presswork, China Fine Presswork Exhibition, celebrates once every two years at simultaneously with China Print or Print China and in the same locality. It is a kind of extension of China Print and Print China, and exhibits especially fine print products. It attracts many printers to attend the exhibition with a view to showing their fine products, as well as many buyers from all over the world to visit the show with a view to sign indents for printing. China Presswork 2009 will be held at the New China International Exhibition Center, May 11-15, 2009. It will occupy more than 6000 square meters. The winners’ opuses of the Second China Print Awards (2007-2008) will be on the exhibition during the event.

International Forum

● FORUM-PI, the International Forum for Printing Industry Development, once every 4 years, Beijing, China. FORUM-PI 2005 held on May 10, 2005, the day before the opening of China Print 2005, 11 leaders of printing associations from 5 developed counties and 6 developing countries delivered wonderful speeches at the event. FORUM-PI 2009 will be held in May, on the day before the opening of China Print 2009.

● FORUM-PT, the International Forum for Printing Technology Development, once every 4 years, Guangdong. FORUM-PT 2007 held on April 9, 2007, the day before the opening of Print China 2007, 10 Specialists and leaders from the leading companies of the world gave their latest reports to the participates. FORUM-PT 2011 will be held in April, on the day before the opening of Print China 2011.

Printing Information

● INFOPRINT is an International Printing Information Conference held by PEIAC every year, on Friday around December 1, before the opening day of PEIAC’s annual meeting, at Friendship Hotel, Beijing, China. About 20 speakers from the world release their latest important news to the audience. More than 500 very important persons from the printing field participate in.

INFOPRINT is the best platform for printing news release in China.

The potential of China printing is very enormous

China printing and printing equipment industries will develop continuously with an expected annual growth rate about 8% in the coming years.

Printing and Printing Equipment Industries Association of China (PEIAC)

No.106 Yongan Street, Xuanwu District, Beijing 100050, China

Tel: 86 10 63020388 86 10 63184767

Fax: 86 10 63020388 86 10 63184767

Web: www.printchina.com www.chinaprint.org.cn

E-mail: dmw@chinaprint.org.cn peiac@chinaprint.org.cn