Printers across the Tasman report sales are up and holding well with positive indications, according to the latest PrintNZ quarterly Print Industry Barometer survey.
- Ruth Cobb, PrintNZ general manager
The recent period of downsizing and restructuring has ushered in more stable volumes for Kiwi print businesses with some price stabilisation noted, however the Q3 2013 report suggests that the market situation is unlikely to change significantly in the short to medium term.
20 companies participated in the survey, contributing a mostly consistent snapshot of the industry as it stands now in the wake of recent economic upheavals. A majority reported some increase in profitability on this point last year, and pointed to tighter control on debtors as a key contributor to improved viability.
The survey concludes that “most print companies seem to have right sized themselves to the market demand”, suggesting a more sustainable supply/demand equation moving forward, with some comments that outlook for the next quarter proved promising.
Ruth Cobb, PrintNZ general manager, said, “Companies have been continuously right-sizing themselves to meet market demand looking for opportunities to broaden their offerings and ways to work smarter in their businesses. This is translating into growth for those businesses.”
Cobb commented that the results show a wide range of activity levels in the market, and that while a number reported solid work levels, the market was still unsettled for other.
Accounting for the improvements noted, Cobb said, “The manufacturing sector in NZ has been in expansion for 10 months now and this would support the slow but steady growth indicators.”
Sustainability was also a recurrent theme throughout the review, with pricing concerns reported as stabilising to a great extent and unsustainable pricing becoming less frequently observed by respondents.