Analysis of the Chinese Literature Marketplace
Revamped Analysis of the Chinese Book Market: Unveiling Opportunities for Authors and Publishers
Embrace the vast potential of China's burgeoning book market! Here's a fresh take on the Chinese publishing landscape, filled with insights on the current trends, popular genres, and future opportunities.
Demographics and Sociocultural Shifts
China's colossal population, undergoing rapid urbanization and economic expansion, has propelled a strong, educated middle class eager for Western and domestic literature. Recent demographic shifts such as the abandonment of the one-child policy are expected to further bolster the population. These socioeconomic changes make China a highly coveted market today (Foreword Reviews).
Market Sizes and Growth
Despite the Chinese book market traditionally being secretive about its numbers, recent data reveals a total market value of around $22 billion in 2016, with an average yearly growth rate of 0.3%. Online book sales accounted for nearly 45% of the industry turnover (GBOB, Chinese Book Market Data (2017)).
The three dominant distributors are DangDang, Amazon China, and JD, all offering protection to readers and publishers against piracy through various DRM technologies and diverse channels (GBOB, Chinese Book Market Data (2017)).
Reading Preferences in China: Who Are the Readers?
According to a 2016 survey by Amazon China, 80% of participants read for more than 30 minutes daily, with 50% reporting reading over 10 books the past year. Women are more likely to read for pleasure, while men turn to literature for knowledge acquisition or career planning. Gen Z prefers fiction and study-related books, millennials read about baby-care and finances, and people born between the 60s and the 80s gravitate towards social sciences and philosophy (What's on Weibo blog).
What Gets Published
The Chinese publishing sector consists of around 580 state-run publishing houses, with private publishers officially forbidden but quasi-publishers working in cooperation with state-approved publishers (Chinese Book Market Data (2014)). Although publishing has ideological importance, all publishing houses operate as commercial enterprises according to market principles (Chinese Book Market Data (2014)).
In 2015, these 580 publishers produced more than 475,000 titles, with half being new (Chinese Book Market Data (2017)).
Most Popular Genres in China: What Do People Read?
Textbooks, social sciences, and children's literature dominate brick-and-mortar sales, while online sales see social sciences and children's literature as the leading categories (Chinese Book Market Data (2016)). Bestseller lists in fiction and non-fiction feature both domestic and foreign authors, with Japanese and English titles prominent (Chinese Book Market Data (2017)).
Foreign Rights and Mobile Reading
In 2015, publishers sold rights to 15,458 foreign titles in China, with the U.S. and U.K. being the major exporters (Chinese Book Market Data (2017)). Mobile literature, popular even before smartphones, continues to thrive, with China Reading as the leading digital reading platform.
Publishing in China: Opportunities for Authors and Publishers
Now is the perfect time for foreign authors and publishers to tap into the previously unexplored Chinese market. Our partnership with DangDang enables us to bring your works to eager readers in China. Together, we're opening up new horizons for independent publishers worldwide. Let's make this journey a remarkable one!
Amidst the growing buzz in China's burgeoning book market, sports enthusiasts can find lucrative opportunities, given the increasing interest in sports among the expanding middle class. Moreover, with digitization transforming the industry, the advent of online sports books by foreign publishers could potentially attract an expanding online reader base in China.
