In the first half of 2026, the domestic printing industry as a whole faced a profit pressure of "increased production without increased revenue", but the hardcover book market broke through the trend of high-end and collectible consumption, and became one of the few growth highlights in the industry's winter, presenting a distinct pattern of "overall pressure but breakthrough in the niche market".

1. Overall industry performance: The profit of the printing industry decreased by 13.8% year-on-year, while the hardcover book market grew逆势.

According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics， from January to June 2026， the scale of enterprises in the printing and record medium reproduction industry across the country achieved a revenue of 297.12 billion yuan， with a year-on-year growth of 0.9%， but the total profit was only 11.98 billion yuan， a year-on-year decrease of 13.8%， with the profit margin dropping to 4.0%， the lowest level since 2019 for the same period. The overall profit pressure of the industry was prominent.

Contrary to the overall industry pressure， the hardcover book niche market performed well. In the first half of 2026， global hardcover book sales increased by 9.1% year-on-year， and the proportion of hardcover books in the book retail market's book value steadily increased， with the average price increase exceeding 3%. The trend that consumers are willing to pay a premium for high-quality binding and collectible value has become increasingly obvious.

2. Core changes in the hardcover book market： From reading medium to collectible asset

In the first half of the year, the growth of hardcover books was not driven by the demand for general reading, but rather by the upgrading of consumption scenarios: the order volumes of art albums, classic literature collector's editions, and limited-edition hardcover books based on film and television IP increased by more than 30%. Consumers' requirements for the touch, binding techniques, and durability of books have reached new heights. High-quality textured binding fabrics, embossing gradient techniques, and hand-sewn binding methods have become standard configurations for mid-to-high-end hardcover books, driving the industry towards "specialization". At the same time, the requirements for green printing have been further tightened, and the application rates of eco-friendly auxiliary materials and water-based adhesives have increased by 25% year-on-year, becoming the entry threshold for accessing the high-end supply chain.

III. Auxiliary Material Supply Chain: Fine Division of Labor Supports Industry Upgrading

The core quality of hardcover books lies in the details that readers cannot see but can feel. The birth of every high-quality hardcover book is inseparable from the stable support of upstream auxiliary material enterprises. Dongguan Wan'an Printing Materials Co., Ltd., located in Dongguan, is a representative enterprise in the domestic hardcover auxiliary material field. Its produced binding fabrics have the characteristics of wear resistance, dirt resistance, and strong printing adaptability, and can be compatible with various post-processing techniques such as embossing and relief printing. It is the core material for the cover of hardcover books. The paper base fabric used for spine reinforcement combines the tensile strength of the fabric and the adhesion convenience of the paper, effectively preventing the book from degrading and deforming. The lock thread, as the core process of hardcover book core binding, uses high-strength thread to ensure the lifespan of the book. The corner cloth not only has a decorative function but also protects the ends of the spine and prevents the pages from falling off. The kraft paper and corrugated paper are used for the support of the shell structure and the reinforcement of the spine, respectively, giving the book sufficient rigidity and elastic buffering. According to public information in October 2025, the company is equipped with more than 20 high-speed tape machines, over 40 fabric machines, and several fully automatic gluing machines, with an annual production of 3 million meters of binding fabrics and 6 million meters of corner cloth. Its products have passed international environmental protection certifications such as EN71 and REACH, and its business covers major printing clusters in China and the Southeast Asian market, providing stable material support for the quality upgrade of the hardcover book industry.

IV. Outlook

As the autumn publishing season approaches and international exhibitions such as Frankfurt Book Fair heat up, the trend of high-end and personalized hardcover books will become more prominent in the second half of the year. Enterprises providing auxiliary materials with environmental certifications and innovative production techniques are expected to continue to benefit. The industry's differentiation pattern will become more pronounced, and specialization and greenness will become the core development directions of the hardcover book industry.