Zhang Mingquan
Statistics provided by the Printing and Printing Equipment Industries Association of China (PEIAC) show that the output value of China's printing equipment industry realized was RMB31.2 billion in 2008, up 12.7% year on year (excluding printing paper).
The statistics cover Chinese enterprises, foreign enterprises, joint venture enterprises, and over 90% of offset printing plate, and have basically and correctly reflected the current situation of the printing equipment industry in China.
China's printing equipment production and market presented a V-type development trend in 2008. In early 2008, the industry had basically retained the high growth in 2007 and was in a strong upward trend, posting a growth between 10-20% in the first half. Then, starting from the latter half, affected by the international economic crisis, some export-oriented enterprises reported order decrease. In the latter period of the third quarter, most enterprises felt the pending crisis; some of them reduced production and some even stopped production. Generally speaking, the output of offset printing plate, printing ink, and rubber printing roller still grew somewhat in 2008, but the output of printing rubber cloth and electrolytic aluminium dropped.
Offset printing plate: In 2008, China's production capacity of offset printing plate was about 360 million square metres; and the actual output was 279 million square metres; up 15.39% year on year. Of this, the output of PS plate was 218 million square metres, up 5.59%; and that of CTP plate, 61 million square metres, up 72.18%. The actual amount of offset printing plate sold in 2008 was 269 million square metres, up 11.72%. To be specific, the amount of PS plate sold was 211 million square metres, up 2%; that of CTP plate sold, 58 million square metres, up 71.36%. Sales volume in the whole year of 2008 was RMB8.458 billion, up 15.86%, including RMB5.482 billion sales volume of PS plate and RMB2.976 billion sales volume of CTP plate. Gross profit of the industry in 2008 was about RMB350 million, and average profit rate, about 4%. The profit of CTP plate is much higher than that of PS plate. Export of offset printing plate was 101 million square metres in 2008, up 22% year on year. Of this, PS plate export was 65 million square metres equal to the level in 2007; CTP plate export, 36 million square metres, up 103.93%.
Printing rubber blanket: In 2008, China's total output of printing rubber blanket was 1.16 million square metres; and sales volume, 1.17 million square metres, down 8%; and sales value, RMB312 million, down 3%. The export amount and export value all dropped over 4%. Rubber blanket is one of the major materials for the production of offset printer, and is roughly divided into two types of ordinary rubber blanket and air cushion rubber cloth. China's output of high-grade printers is growing rapidly, while low and medium-grade printers are being eliminated. As the demand for quality printed products is growing bigger, the demand for the quality of rubber cloth is also higher. As a result, the market demand for ordinary rubber cloth is dwindling, while that for air cushion rubber cloth is increasing. As many Chinese factories cannot produce air cushion rubber cloth in quantities, foreign high-grade air cushion rubber cloth products have flooded into China. Of China's consumption of air cushion rubber cloth, foreign import takes a big proportion.
Rubber printing roller: China's output of rubber printing roller was 1.5 billion cubic centimetres in 2008, up 6% year on year; while sales volume dropped somewhat. Features of rubber printing roller production in China are: too many factories of small production scale, low equipment level and backward technology. Few Chinese enterprises have their annual output value standing above RMB5 million, and most of them can only produce low and medium-grade rubber rollers, which are used in low-speed printers. China's import of high-speed printers is increasing.
Electrolytic aluminium: China's total output was 4.49 million rolls in 2008; total sales volume, 4.51 million, down 7% year on year; and sales revenue, RMB412 million. Electrolytic aluminium production has been greatly affected by the economic crisis: the growth of packaging printing has slowed down, influencing electrolytic aluminium output greatly. However, market demand for some high-grade products, such as laser membrane stamping and holographic anti-counterfeit mark is brisk. As commodity packaging poses increasing demand for individuality, the demand for anti-counterfeit marks will be especially brisk. Production of electrolytic aluminium has become increasingly diversified in recent years, many new enterprises with comparatively simple equipment and producing low-end ordinary products have been launched in some places, and this will intensify the competition on the low-end products market.
Printing ink: China's total output of the printing ink industry was 425,000 tons in 2008, up about 8% year on year; export was 29,600 tons, as against 37,600 tons in 2007, and the export value was US$105 million: import was 38,800 tons, as against 46,500 tons in 2007, and the import value was US$376 million.
Master film: China's production of master film was about 13 million square metres in 2008, and the country still needs to import the product in quantities.
