Revenue for the US Commercial Printing Industry to Reach $77.7 Billion in 2014

Revenue for the US commercial printing industry, which includes prepress and printing services on a job order basis, is expected to increase 2.1 percent per year to $77.7 billion in 2014.  Growth of commercial printing revenue will be driven by ongoing technological improvements in the speed, quality and cost of printing.  Increasing implementation of on-demand and variable-data printing will also boost advances.  Gains will be aided by a cyclical rebound in advertising expenditures and increased outsourcing by newspaper publishers.  Although the volume of printed pages in periodicals such as newspapers will fall, commercial printers will benefit as many publishers outsource their printing operations. Further growth will be restrained by the fact that most commercial printing applications compete with electronic alternatives available on personal computers and other devices. These and other trends, including market share and product segementation, are presented in Commercial Printing, a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industry market research firm.

In 2009, lithographic printing accounted for the largest portion of commercial printing revenue, but this share is falling because lithographic printing tends to be less economical for shorter print runs.  A trend toward shorter print runs will accommodate more customization and leaner inventories of printed products.  Digital printing, which represented the second largest share of commercial printing revenue in 2009, is expected to achieve the fastest gains through 2014 based on its lower cost, quick turnaround and ease of customization for shorter print runs.  The digital printing process continues to benefit from advances in speed of operation, image quality and product size range. 

In 2009, advertising (direct mail, indoor and outdoor displays, preprinted newspaper inserts, and other products) was the largest commercial printing application.  Through 2014, commercially printed advertising is projected to post increases or 3.4 percent per annum, aided by the cyclical recovery of total advertising expenditures from a low 2009 base.  Demand for direct mail and other commercially printed advertising will also be boosted by opportunities for customization using variable-data printing and other innovations.

The Freedonia Group is a leading international business research company, founded in 1985, that publishes more than 100 industry research studies annually. This industry analysis provides an unbiased outlook and a reliable assessment of an industry and includes product segmentation and demand forecasts, industry trends, demand history, threats and opportunities, competitive strategies, market share determinations and company profiles.