Market info

Overview of the graphics industry in France

In 2006, total turnover in the « Publishing, Printing, Reproduction» sector remained stable at €26bn.

5000 companies from the graphics industry form a network across the country. Around 80% of companies in this sector employ from 20 to <100 employees. The 267 companies of more than 100 employees achieve nearly two-thirds of the overall turnover.

Since 2002, the fall in staff numbers has continued: -2.8% for 2006. 1521 companies of 20 employees or more make up the sector, representing a decline of 3.6% compared with 2005.

This sector mainly depends on the national market, with its export rate remaining low at 7.5% of total turnover, but nevertheless with a development increase of nearly 2%.

The graphics industry

The graphics industry generates a turnover of around €8.1 billion (companies of 20 employees or more). It includes the pre-press, binding and finishing sectors as well as printing.

• Pre-press: a very competitive sector made up of small units

Located upstream, this business line principally involves composition and photocomposition. Pre-press turnover is relatively stable. It amounted to €940m in 2005.

This business line is subject to heightened competition and the sector has become more concentrated. This is mainly due to automation of printing units, digitized systems and the quest for economies of scale being conducted by the large printing houses.

• Printing: the heart of the graphics industry

Printing covers 80% of jobs and most of the sector's turnover (nearly €10bn). This includes all printing techniques, from offset to digital...

The number of companies has significantly declined in recent years and the larger units are restructuring. In spite of everything, the sector's turnover is remaining steady as a result of productivity gains.

• Finishing: a stable downstream sector

The finishing sector (binding, soft binding, folding), located downstream within the graphics industry, has not experienced strong restructuring.

It principally includes six key markets:

• printing of the periodical press,
• printing of remote sales catalogues,
• advertising and posters,
• continuous printing,
• government and commercial printing,
• printing of books.

These six markets represent 88% of volumes printed. In recent years, the continuous printing market has experienced a significant decline in value and volume linked to the computerization of some printed material.

The advertising market is also suffering. The recent opening up of TV advertising to large-scale retail and the increase in internet advertising investments are the main reasons for this.

Consumption of printed material globally is on the increase, but France imports more than it exports. French imports of printed material come mainly from Europe. China currently represents 1.6% of imports.

Branch's external trade

Market share of main exporting countries in 2005

The graphics industry is a sector using products which are potentially harmful to the environment. Printers are committed to an environmental initiative through the "Imprim'vert" label and the ISO 14001 standard for example.

See also