Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2013-2028)
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 5.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $590.0m in 2023.
Trends and Insights
The outbreak of COVID-19 hammered printing service providers
- The outbreak of COVID-19 accelerated declines for printing services providers as many businesses reduced their spending, specifically with marketing, to conserve cash amid economic uncertainty.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Fundamentals will continue to worsen
- The outlook for newspaper, magazine and book publishers is bearish because of their inability to diversify to the same extent, hindering downstream demand for printing service providers.
Biggest companies in the Printing Services in Canada
| Company | Market Share (%)
2023 | Revenue ($m)
2023 | Profit ($m)
2023 | Profit Margin (%)
2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
DCM | 31.7 | 3.8 | 12.0 | |
Transcontinental | 23.4 | 1.3 | 5.6 | |
Lowe-Martin | 3.4 | 0.4 | 11.8 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Prepress services, Printing plates and Hardcover bookbinding. Prepress services is the largest segment of the Printing Services in Canada.
Trends and Insights
Printing service providers face declines in printing plates
- The manufacturing of traditional offset printing plates involves the transfer of images or text to a plate or other form ready for mounting on a printing press.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
This industry offers prepress and postpress services. Prepress services include image setting and typesetting for printers, film preparation and plates for printing. Postpress services include functions that support printing activities, such as book binding. This industry does not include companies that are primarily engaged in printing, which are instead included in the Printing industry in Canada (IBISWorld report 32311CA).
What's included in this industry?
Book, almanac and pamphlet binding without printingColour separation servicesElectrotype and embossing plate preparation servicesLetterpress and lithographic plate preparation servicesPhotoengraving and flexographic plate preparation servicesPrepress and postpress printing servicesPrinting plate preparation servicesRebinding and repairing books, magazines or pamphletsTypesettingCompanies
DCMTranscontinentalLowe-MartinPurchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
PREPRESSCIRCULATIONDIRECT-TO-PLATEE-BOOKIndustry Code
NAICS 323120 - Printing Services in Canada
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
The outbreak of COVID-19 led to considerable declines. Economic uncertainty led to falling advertising expenditures. Many businesses accelerating their efforts to digitalize ...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
- Employees, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
- Businesses, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
- Profit, including historical (2013-2023)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Manufacturers have bolstered growth for packaging services. Despite declines in prepress services, manufacturers’ need for postpress services has remained strong.
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
- International Trade
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2023
- Product innovation level
- Total imports, level and trend
- Total exports, level and trend
- Trade Balance
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2023
- Major market segmentation in 2023
- International trade, including imports by country and exports by country
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
- Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
Proximity to customers is crucial for printing service providers. Printing service providers must establish facilities close to customers so that orders can undergo a relativ...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each province
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2023
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each province in 2023
- Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2023
- Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2023
- Number and share of employees in each province in 2023
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Competition among printing service providers is stiff. Printing service providers compete based on price, quality of service and timeliness to attract a diminishing amount of...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2018-2023
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
No company has amassed more than 5.0% of the market. Most printing service providers are small-scale and are mainly nonemployers.
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2019 through 2023
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2023
- Overview of DCM's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023
- Overview of Transcontinental's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023
- Overview of Lowe-Martin's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for DCM, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Transcontinental, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Lowe-Martin, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Printing service providers face moderate regulations. Printing service providers must comply with regulations set by Environment Canada and various intellectual property laws...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2013-2028)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2013-2028)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Printing service providers have enjoyed profit growth. Smaller less profitable companies ceasing operations and printing service providers increasingly offering value-added s...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2023
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2023
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Liquidity Ratios (2016-2021)
- Coverage Ratios (2016-2021)
- Leverage Ratios (2016-2021)
- Operating Ratios (2016-2021)
- Assets (2016-2021)
- Liabilities (2016-2021)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2013-2028)
- Revenue per Employee (2013-2028)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2013-2028)
- Employees per Establishment (2013-2028)
- Employees per Enterprise (2013-2028)
- Average Wage (2013-2028)
- Wages/Revenue (2013-2028)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2013-2028)
- IVA/Revenue (2013-2028)
- Imports/Demand (2013-2028)
- Exports/Revenue (2013-2028)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2013-2028)
- IVA (2013-2028)
- Establishments (2013-2028)
- Enterprises (2013-2028)
- Employment (2013-2028)
- Exports (2013-2028)
- Imports (2013-2028)
- Wages (2013-2028)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Printing Services industry in Canada in 2024?
The market size of the Printing Services industry in Canada is $590.0m in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Printing Services in Canada industry in 2023?
There are 515 businesses in the Printing Services industry in Canada, which has declined at a CAGR of 5.5 % between 2018 and 2023.
Has the Printing Services industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Printing Services industry in Canada has been declining at a CAGR of 5.9 % between 2018 and 2023.
What is the forecast growth of the Printing Services industry in Canada over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Printing Services industry in Canada is expected to decline.
What are the biggest companies in the Printing Services market in Canada?
The biggest companies operating in the Printing Services market in Canada are DCM, Transcontinental and Lowe-Martin
What does the Printing Services in Canada include?
Book, almanac and pamphlet binding without printing and Colour separation services are part of the Printing Services industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Printing Services in Canada?
The company holding the most market share in Canada is DCM.
How competitive is the Printing Services industry in Canada?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Printing Services industry in Canada.
Related Industries
Widen your competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
Complementors
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in Canada include:
- Statistics Canada
- Industry Canada
- Canadian Business Patterns
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
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