From the interviews collected during China Print 2025, we extrapolate some suggestions on how the demand from Chinese printers is evolving and how the offer of international exhibitors changes consequently.

A Billion Dollar Market

According to official data shared by the organizers of the China Print event, in 2022 the Chinese printing industry produced a total value of 1.43 trillion RMB (around $199,570,156,500), with 103,000 companies and 2.4 million employees. In the early 1980s, domestic production stood at 5 billion RMB, this means in 40 years this market has grown to be 300 times what it used to be, and has earned China the first place in the industry’s world ranking.
According to the same source, in the first half of 2024 the total value (import+export) of Made in China products and equipment reached 11.9 billion US dollars, confirming the deep dependence of the global supply chain on the Chinese market.

Looking at outlet sectors, according to an interview by Converting magazine with the manager of China Print 2017, at that time in China the editorial press was experiencing a positive development trend, albeit (relatively) modest, supported by large volumes of school and children’s books. The greatest dynamism concerned applications in packaging and labeling, which, according to estimates, would account for 70% of print outlets. Today, the relative importance between outbound application sectors is similar.

Data and statistics, it is known, are intrinsically conditioned by classification, detection and processing criteria of the products considered, and can vary greatly. At the opening of the 03/2025 issue, Converting publishes the StudiaBo report, expressed in euros and focused on the Graphic Arts printing and transformation technologies supplying industry.

Some opinions form China Print 2025

For international technology suppliers, the Chinese printing market, especially the packaging and labels sectors, is very interesting. Despite the peculiar criticalities of doing business in China (see the Omet and RE SpA interviews) and a particularly complex international situation, which makes venturing forecasts and projects even more difficult, China Print 2025 has attracted a large number of foreign exhibitors, among which the main Western players stand out. This is made evident by Manroland’s great return and the first time of “big guns” such as Landa, Durst, manroland-Goss, ContiTech, C&D Paper & Pulp Group and others.

Unanimous satisfaction was expressed for what has become the world’s leading printing trade fair, even surpassing Drupa in square meters sold to exhibitors and number of visitors. From the many interviews we conducted at the stands at China Print 2025 we have drawn some suggestions about the approach, results and expectations around the Chinese market. We report them in alphabetical order, with a preliminary notation: this year in Beijing the big worldwide brands were represented by top management officers or by company owners in person, an attention reserved to only a few international events.

Esko (Danaher Corp., Washington D.C. USA)

Integrated software and hardware for printing, packaging and labels

“Because of the slim margin generated by the high internal competition leveraging on low prices, Chinese companies are increasingly attentive to the optimization of workflows in every single step of production. These dynamics support Esko’s growth on the Chinese market with its entire software portfolio ” (Eric Shui, GM Greater China)

HP Industrial Print, HP Inc. (USA)

Printing solutions and services for the Graphic Arts and commercial applications

“We brought to the event machines of all price and performance ranges, covering all applications – not only aimed at big spenders, but also at small and medium-sized companies: in China, the demand for quality is growing at every level, and it’s driving investments. Even in this time of global uncertainty, Chinese operators are not frightened by the precariousness of the moment; they make long-term plans and keep their heading towards their established objectives. And we make ourselves available to manage what happens along the way with them, day after day, with the necessary means, and with good prospects throughout the East, from Russia to Southeast Asia” (Yoav Lotan, Head of Products & Solutions HP Industrial Print Asia Pacific & Japan)

Leonhard Kurz Stiftung & Co. (Fürth, D)

Materials, machines and finishing solutions

“We have set up our (wonderful, Ed.) stand enhancing our products in all types of applications, starting with foil stamping, which is very popular. In China we sell well across all sectors, with a growing trend, despite the geopolitical turbulence and growing competition from increasingly numerous and effective local players, versed in anti-counterfeiting for example. The times may be a little more difficult for customers who rely on exports, but our business is not really affected” (Peter Wang, Product Manager of Packaging and Print/Textile – APA)

 

Komori (Tokyo, J)

Printing machines

“China is the world’s largest producer of packaging of all kinds, for all outlet sectors, both for the domestic and export markets, and expresses a strongly expanding demand. Converters, and not only the largest ones, need fast, reliable machines that do what they have to do with maximum efficiency and versatility while keeping costs in check. This is why we showcase our most technologically advanced machines, with lights and speeds that allow to optimise workflows and production performance on all types of substrates. And today we are working to develop printing on plastic substrates, cheaper than paper and more performing” (Hikaru Yamada,Vice President, China Business Strategy)

Kyocera Document Solutions (Tokyo, J)

Inkjet printers

“Chinese customers expect reliability, good pricing and quality, and Kyocera’s unique digital inkjet technology meets all these demands, overcoming both the speed limits of toner machines and the lack of flexibility of classic reel solutions, typically on short runs. It allows us to target this market by developing ad hoc solutions, for on-demand business for example. We have strong distributors that help us follow the evolution in demand on the different market segments. An example? Enhancing our offer of cutsheet machines for short runs and presenting new solutions for primer-less printing on coated paper. Namely the new TASKalf Pro 55000c printing at 1200×1200 dpi on substrates of up to 450 microns in thickness, with high brightness and saturation inks that achieve high coverage with low consumption, guaranteeing see&touch&feel prints ” (Yoshihiko Fujiki, Corporate Business Planning Division Deputy General Manager)

 

 

Meteor Inkjet (Hybrid Software, Cambridge, UK)

Electronics and software for inkjet printing in all applications

“Chinese companies are starting to digitize processes and are currently supporting a rapidly expanding demand for electronic components” (Martin Duda, Technical & Commercial Consultant)

Ricoh (Tokyo, J)

Printers and document management services

“The Japanese manufacturer is positioned in the upper segment of the market as a supplier of exclusive technology for high quality and value-added productions. At the company’s stand a series of machines that represent the top of the company’s offer, each with its unique and distinctive features and performance. To cite just on example, the latest model capable of carrying out simultaneous front and back commercial printing at top speed.”  (Alexander Quek, Ricoh Asia Pacific CEC Head)

 

Scodix B.V. (Maastricht, NL)

Digital embellishment solutions for printing

At China Print 2025 Scodix shared the stand with Komori, which distributes the company’s products in China and provides customer service. “We are particularly strong in large, high-productivity machinery for folding carton: practically all cardboard converters, not only the larger companies, are our customers, despite the high cost of our solutions. We operate almost without any competition since local manufacturers mainly produce entry-level equipment; moreover, embellishment is a growing segment worldwide, including in China, with a trend characterized by shorter higher quality runs. At the moment our installed fleet counts more than 150 machines active on a global scale, with peaks in the health & beauty, OTC pharma and luxury products sectors ” (Eli Grinberg, CEO, Co-Founder)

Tresu (Kolding, DK)

Flexo printing machines

“The trade fair went very well for us, having finalized the sale of a very large and complex machine for printing cigarette cases. Flexo is also gradually being introduced to China, driven – just as it’s happening in the West – by the growing demand for sustainability, quality and a better overall convenience of the work cycle in general. We operate locally with a sales office that also supplies spare parts, with no problems or delivery times issues: we begin the machine’s manufacturing process after the contract has been signed and construction takes its time; one year to be shipped from Denmark is considered average. Not to mention that there are no Chinese manufacturers able to provide anything comparable in performance and quality” (Henrik Kristensen, CEO, Sales)