São Paulo – Book sales increased by 4.13% in Brazil in 2013 from 2012, according to a survey conducted by the Economic Research Institute Foundation (Fipe, in the Portuguese acronym) under commissioning from the Brazilian Book Chamber (CBL). The survey covered 217 publishers, retaining a combined 72% market share.
According to the survey, 279.66 million books were sold in 2013, as against 268.56 million in 2012. Sales to Brazilian government programs were up 20.41% to 200.3 million books in 2013. In 2012, 166.35 million books were purchased via said programs.
The main program, Plano Nacional do Livro Didático (National Schoolbook Plan) accounted for R$ 1.253 billion (US$ 562.1 million) in revenues, up 14.22% in 2013 from 2012. Overall, government book purchases stood at R$ 1.474 billion (US$ 661.2 million), up 12.04%.
Total revenues for Brazilian publishers was up 1.52% to R$ 5.35 billion (US$ 2.4 billion) in actual terms last year. Disregarding inflation, the increase was 7.52%. The survey considered inflation rates as measured by the IPCA (Extended Consumer Price Index).
The average price of books, adjusted for inflation, was up 1.7%. The constant average price, i.e. disregarding inflation, was down 4%. Since 2004, the surveys show a downward trend in constant price.
E-book sales were up 225.13% in 2013 from 2012. Despite the considerable increase, the segment answered to less than 1% of total publishers’ revenues.
CBL chairwoman Karine Pansa believes industry performance was poor, reflecting the economic scenario, s the country struggled to overcome the financial crisis which first erupted in European countries. According to her, the CBL has not made sales and revenue projections for this year.
"It is too early to speak of an increment or a decline. The year is being atypical for everyone, there are several holidays. The publishers need to get moving and seek out new business models, including virtual niches,” she said.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
