Despite a Consistent Decline of Printing Machinery and Equipment Imports, the U.S. Still Remains the Largest Market for Exporters across the Globe
Printing June 23, 2016
Photo: © silvanoaudisio / Bigstockphoto
The U.S. ranks first in global imports of printing machinery and equipment, accounting for a 17% share (based on USD). It was followed by China (12%), Germany (10%) and the Netherlands (7%). In 2015, U.S. printing machinery and equipment imports totaled 10,916 million USD, decreasing by 494 million USD (4%) from the year before.
A significant drop in 2009 was followed by a recovery over the next two years, until imports turned to a consistently downward trend, declining softly from 2012 to 2015.
Despite a recovery attempt in 2010-2011, imports failed to reach the peak level of 2008. A recent downward trend depressed imports further to the levels far below those at the outset of the period under review.
Even with a steady decline of imports, the U.S. continues to be one the biggest market for global exporters.
China and Japan were the main suppliers of printing machinery and equipment into the U.S., with a combined 62% share of total U.S. imports in 2015. However, the fastest growing supplier from 2007 to 2015 was Malaysia (+15.5% per year, ranking third with a 12% share). Over the same period, imports from China grew by +3.4% per year, while Japan saw a decline with an annual rate of -5.2%.
China significantly strengthened its position in the U.S. import structure, from 22% in 2007 to 34% in 2015. Malaysia was also on the race, gaining +9 percentage points over the same period. By contrast, Japan saw its share reduced from 37% to 28%.
From 2007 to 2015, the U.S. was a net importer of printing machinery and equipment. However, after considerable fluctuations, exports reached the level relatively equal to 2007, while imports were on decline on average over the period under review.
Net US imports of printing machinery and equipment recorded several conspicuous fluctuations over the period under review, but the overall trend was pronouncedly downward. In 2015, this industry ran a significant trade deficit of 6,911 billion USD.
Source: U.S. Printing Machinery And Equipment Market. Analysis And Forecast to 2020
