EU Exercise Book Market Continues to Decline Due to Digitalization

IndexBox has just published a new report: 'EU - Exercise Books - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends And Insights'. Here is a summary of the report's key findings.

The revenue of the exercise book market in the European Union amounted to $427M in 2018, growing by 1.9% against the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers' margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). In general, exercise book consumption, however, continues to indicate a slight decline. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2010 with an increase of 9.6% y-o-y. Over the period under review, the exercise book market reached its maximum level at $540M in 2008; however, from 2009 to 2018, consumption failed to regain its momentum.

Consumption By Country in the EU

The countries with the highest volumes of exercise book consumption in 2018 were France (39K tonnes), Italy (30K tonnes) and Spain (24K tonnes), together accounting for 47% of total consumption. These countries were followed by the UK, Poland, Germany, Greece, Romania, Belgium, Portugal, Austria and Hungary, which together accounted for a further 43%.

In value terms, France ($97M), Poland ($55M) and Spain ($50M) were the countries with the highest levels of market value in 2018, with a combined 47% share of the total market. These countries were followed by the UK, Germany, Greece, Romania, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Portugal and Hungary, which together accounted for a further 33%.

The countries with the highest levels of exercise book per capita consumption in 2018 were France (592 kg per 1000 persons), Greece (570 kg per 1000 persons) and Poland (548 kg per 1000 persons).

Market Forecast 2019-2025 in the EU

Depressed by shrinking demand for exercise book in the European Union, the market is expected to continue its downward consumption trend over the next seven-year period. The performance of the market is forecast to contract with an anticipated CAGR of -0.2% for the seven-year period from 2018 to 2025, which is projected to depress the market volume to 195K tonnes by the end of 2025.

Production in the EU

In 2018, the production of exercise books in the European Union stood at 201K tonnes, picking up by 7.9% against the previous year. Overall, exercise book production, however, continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2010 with an increase of 13% year-to-year. The volume of exercise book production peaked at 211K tonnes in 2007; however, from 2008 to 2018, production remained at a lower figure.

In value terms, exercise book production stood at $367M in 2018 estimated in export prices. Overall, exercise book production, however, continues to indicate a moderate contraction. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2014 when production volume increased by 5.2% year-to-year. The level of exercise book production peaked at $483M in 2008; however, from 2009 to 2018, production remained at a lower figure.

Production By Country in the EU

The countries with the highest volumes of exercise book production in 2018 were France (37K tonnes), Italy (31K tonnes) and Poland (23K tonnes), together accounting for 45% of total production. These countries were followed by Spain, the UK, Germany, Estonia, Belgium, Portugal, Austria, Greece and Slovakia, which together accounted for a further 45%.

From 2007 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of exercise book production, amongst the main producing countries, was attained by Greece, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Exports in the EU

The exports stood at 60K tonnes in 2018, growing by 3.6% against the previous year. The total export volume increased at an average annual rate of +2.0% from 2007 to 2018; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2013 with an increase of 14% year-to-year. Over the period under review, exercise book exports attained their maximum in 2018 and are likely to continue its growth in the immediate term.

In value terms, exercise book exports totaled $134M (IndexBox estimates) in 2018. The total export value increased at an average annual rate of +1.1% over the period from 2007 to 2018; however, the trend pattern remained relatively stable, with only minor fluctuations in certain years. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2014 with an increase of 12% year-to-year. In that year, exercise book exports reached their peak of $138M. From 2015 to 2018, the growth of exercise book exports failed to regain its momentum.

Exports by Country

In 2018, Estonia (11K tonnes), distantly followed by Belgium (6,074 tonnes), France (5,869 tonnes), Germany (4,769 tonnes), Portugal (4,589 tonnes), Poland (4,241 tonnes), Slovenia (4,037 tonnes), Austria (3,783 tonnes) and Slovakia (3,638 tonnes) were the major exporters of exercise books, together mixing up 79% of total exports. The following exporters - Spain (2,527 tonnes), Italy (2,490 tonnes) and the Netherlands (2,462 tonnes) - each recorded a 12% share of total exports.

From 2007 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of exports, amongst the main exporting countries, was attained by Portugal, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest exercise book markets in the European Union were Estonia ($20M), France ($18M) and Belgium ($12M), together comprising 37% of total exports. Germany, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Slovenia, Austria, the Netherlands, Slovakia and Italy lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 53%.

Portugal experienced the highest growth rate of exports, in terms of the main exporting countries over the last eleven-year period, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Export Prices by Country

The exercise book export price in the European Union stood at $2,219 per tonne in 2018, jumping by 4.1% against the previous year. In general, the exercise book export price, however, continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2014 an increase of 7.8% year-to-year. The level of export price peaked at $2,662 per tonne in 2011; however, from 2012 to 2018, export prices failed to regain their momentum.

Prices varied noticeably by the country of origin; the country with the highest price was Spain ($3,657 per tonne), while Portugal ($1,826 per tonne) was amongst the lowest.

From 2007 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Poland, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Imports in the EU

In 2018, approx. 57K tonnes of exercise books were imported in the European Union; approximately reflecting the previous year. Overall, exercise book imports continue to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2008 with an increase of 11% year-to-year. In that year, exercise book imports reached their peak of 61K tonnes. From 2009 to 2018, the growth of exercise book imports failed to regain its momentum.

In value terms, exercise book imports totaled $126M (IndexBox estimates) in 2018. The total import value increased at an average annual rate of +1.5% over the period from 2007 to 2018; the trend pattern remained relatively stable, with only minor fluctuations being recorded over the period under review. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2008 with an increase of 19% year-to-year. Over the period under review, exercise book imports reached their maximum at $134M in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2018, imports failed to regain their momentum.

Imports by Country

The imports of the five major importers of exercise books, namely the UK, France, Spain, the Netherlands and Germany, represented more than half of total import. The following importers - Sweden (2,290 tonnes), Belgium (1,792 tonnes), Italy (1,770 tonnes), Poland (1,723 tonnes), Croatia (1,507 tonnes), Portugal (1,439 tonnes) and Greece (1,399 tonnes) - together made up 21% of total imports.

From 2007 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of imports, amongst the main importing countries, was attained by Germany, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest exercise book importing markets in the European Union were the UK ($20M), France ($17M) and Spain ($15M), together accounting for 42% of total imports. These countries were followed by Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, Sweden, Poland, Italy, Croatia and Greece, which together accounted for a further 38%.

Germany recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to imports, among the main importing countries over the last eleven-year period, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices by Country

In 2018, the exercise book import price in the European Union amounted to $2,226 per tonne, going up by 6.7% against the previous year. Over the period from 2007 to 2018, it increased at an average annual rate of +1.2%. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2008 an increase of 7.2% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the import prices for exercise books attained their peak figure at $2,245 per tonne in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2018, import prices stood at a somewhat lower figure.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2018, the country with the highest price was Portugal ($3,181 per tonne), while Italy ($1,792 per tonne) was amongst the lowest.

From 2007 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Germany, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox AI Platform