The second Global Trends drupa report says printers across the globe are ‘optimistic’ about the future despite ‘worsening of financial conditions year-on-year’. The report, designed to track key economic and market developments in the global print industry leading to drupa 2016, is based on a survey of more than 1100 participants, including Australian printers. The report says 19 per cent of Australia/Oceania printers said the condition of their business in 2014 was better than the year before. And 69 per cent of Australia/Oceania printers were ‘optimistic’ about the prospect of their business in the next 12 months.
In Australia/Oceania 27 per cent of suppliers were content with their business’ performance in 2014, and nearly 50 per cent remained optimistic about the next 12 months. However, the report – organised by Messe Dusseldorf – says prices continue to slump, despite rising revenues of 39 per cent for the global printers, compared to 22 per cent who have seen revenues decline. The survey shows just 15 per cent of the global printers achieving price hikes, while 38 per cent said prices have declined. No region reported an ‘improved picture year-on-year’. Similar results were gathered for printer utilisation with 44 per cent of the global audience reporting improved utilisation in 2014, while 20 per cent report a decline. Australia reported better conditions with 56 per cent improved utilisation, compared with 41 per cent the previous year. However, despite a surge in utilisation, margins continue on the downward spiral. According to the report, 34 per cent of the global panel of printers described their business’ current condition as ‘good’, and 13 per cent said it was ‘poor’, compared to 21 per cent the previous year. The report also surveyed some 304 suppliers from across the globe. Among the global suppliers, 36 per cent said their companies in 2014 were in good condition, and 17 per cent reported poorer conditions, the report says. The suppliers were also more ‘optimistic about the next 12 months with 51 per cent globally expecting their companies to improve and eight per cent expecting a decline. The report says, “Europe, Australia/Oceania show great weakness reflecting the fragile economic performance in those regions while the softening of economic prospects for Asia and South/Central America are reflected in poor overall measures.” Australia/Oceania supplier’s revenue lagged behind reporting a 14 per cent decline, despite the regional pattern for supplier revenues showing an overall net positive balance.
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