In 2023, the publishing sector in Spain experienced a notable growth, with revenue increasing by 5.1% to reach 2.86 billion euros. Looking ahead to 2024, the President of the Federation of Gremios de Editores de España (FGEE), Daniel Fernández, expressed optimism, suggesting that growth could reach as much as 7%.
During the same year, a total of 184 million books were sold, averaging a price of 14.66 euros each. While this statistic suggests that each Spaniard purchased about four books, Fernández pointed out that it can be misleading. In reality, a third of the population does not buy books, except for their children’s school materials. Another third buys between three and five books annually, while the most avid readers purchase around ten books each year, aligning with European reading habits.
The report from the FGEE highlighted that the largest increase in book sales occurred in the children’s and young adult literature categories, which grew by 5.9%. Non-fiction books also saw a rise of 5.6%. The overall increase in revenue for the publishing sector was primarily driven by a rise in the number of copies sold, with 5.2 million additional copies sold compared to 2022, marking a 3.4% increase.
Since the pandemic, the sector has seen an impressive growth in sales, accumulating a total increase of 17.09% and 30.1% over the past decade. The children’s and young adult literature segment continues to thrive, surpassing other categories with a 5.9% growth, translating to sales worth 497.3 million euros and a 35.47% increase compared to 2020. Non-fiction sales also grew significantly, increasing by 5.6% and generating 849.84 million euros in revenue.
The market for non-university textbooks experienced a substantial boost, growing by 5.2% compared to 2022, amounting to 796.57 million euros in sales. This increase was largely attributed to the renewal of educational materials following the implementation of recent legislation affecting most educational communities.
Fiction for adults saw a 4.5% growth, generating 622.23 million euros, driven by a 4.8% increase in sales of contemporary novels. However, the comic book segment experienced a decline, with a 3.1% drop in revenue.
Bookstores and retail chains continue to be the primary distribution channels, representing 58.1% of total sales. Digital books also showed a positive trend, increasing revenue by 3.5% to 144.13 million euros. This segment accounted for 5% of the sector’s total sales, with 14.86 million downloads or purchases, marking a 5.6% rise, although the average price per digital book slightly decreased by 2% to 9.7 euros.
Audiobook sales surged dramatically, reaching 6.7 million, which is a staggering increase of 95.3% compared to 2022.
On the export front, however, book exports declined by 6.5% to 376.7 million euros, primarily due to a significant drop in graphic sector sales, which fell by 46.1%. Despite this decrease, the trade balance remained positive, with a surplus of 270.95 million euros.
Ibero-America remained the top destination for Spanish book exports, accounting for sales totaling 183.65 million euros, followed closely by the European Union, which generated 138.31 million euros. Together, these markets represent 85.47% of the export destinations.
Fernández emphasized that these figures, along with the data from the Barometer of Reading Habits, reflect the vibrant state of the book sector. He noted, “The book has become a cultural product that continues to attract citizens as a key element in their development.”
For further details on reading habits and trends within the publishing industry, you can explore resources such as the Spanish Ministry of Culture or organizations dedicated to literacy and reading promotion.
Image and News Source: https://www.infobae.com/espana/agencias/2024/07/24/las-ventas-de-libros-crecieron-51-en-2023-pero-un-tercio-de-los-espanoles-no-compra/
