Book print industry in India is on a growth path, after an uptick of income from book sales across 2017. We are seeing a solid move back to physical books in the Indian market. Yes, there are challenges, but these are not different from those many other industries are going through. Book publishers are positive about the outlook for the industry. There’s definitely an enduring appeal to printed books and there are a variety of reasons for that. Physical books have become celebrated once again as objects of beauty and publishers invest a lot of time and thought into making their print books beautiful, commissioning celebrated designers and illustrators and ensuring that print continues to be a desirable form of reading. This is one reason, book print exports from India are on a growth path, once again.

The challenge faced by the value chain is the recent increase in raw materials. This has made the contracts signed by printers look shaky on paper.  The exporters are boosted by the rupee devaluation on one side, but as most of the inputs or raw materials are imported - most of this benefit has been nullified.

The book print value chain - consisting of publishers and printers is closely knit and they will need to find a solution quickly.

It is important for the print community to understand and value the role that they play in educating a huge nation like ours. We can proudly claim that we are the most cost-effective converters of paper to books, in the world. We help keep the books so affordable that they are accessible to one and all.

We need to celebrate our success, achievements and the large contribution that we are providing the society at large.

And the PrintWeek Awards for Book Printer of the Year is an important way to celebrate the resilience of the book industry.