Chan Ye Xin Xi Wang·2025-07-11 01:13Core Insights - The Chinese book retail market has experienced fluctuations since 2020, with a decline in market size from 987 billion yuan in 2021 to 871 billion yuan in 2022, followed by a slight recovery to 912 billion yuan in 2023, representing a growth rate of 4.7% [1][5] - In 2024, the market is expected to achieve rapid growth, with the industry scale reaching 1,129 billion yuan, a year-on-year growth rate of 23.8%, driven by the rise of short video e-commerce and innovations in physical bookstores [1][5] Industry Overview - Book retail refers to the process of selling books directly to end consumers, involving careful selection, pricing, promotion, and distribution to meet consumer demand while achieving commercial benefits for publishers and distributors [2] - The industry has seen a stable growth in the number of physical bookstores, with a rise of distinctive and diverse new bookstores, contributing to a preliminary establishment of an integrated online and offline sales channel [2] Market Dynamics - The book retail market is undergoing transformation, reflected in changes in consumer habits, marketing models, channel diversification, policy support, and technological advancements [7] - In 2024, the market structure shows that platform e-commerce accounts for 40.92% of the market, short video e-commerce for 30.48%, while vertical and other e-commerce and offline physical stores account for 14.71% and 13.99%, respectively [7] Book Categories - The largest category in the book retail market is children's books, accounting for 28.16% of the market in 2024, followed by educational materials at 25.33%, supported by a large user base of students [9] Competitive Landscape - The market competition is characterized by diversification and the integration of online and offline sales. Major online platforms like Dangdang and JD Books dominate the market, while physical bookstores like Xinhua Bookstore and independent bookstores enhance their competitiveness through cultural experiences and events [11] - Companies such as CITIC Publishing, Zhongnan Media, and Xinhua Wenhui are key players in the market, each with distinct business focuses ranging from educational materials to digital publishing [13] Development Trends - The integration of online and offline channels is accelerating, with a predicted stable online channel share of 65%-70% and offline bookstores achieving 30%-35% in the next five years [17] - Digitalization and personalized services are emerging trends, with the digital education market expected to exceed 5 billion yuan by 2025, accounting for 15% of the overall market [18][19] - Government policies are continuously supporting the industry's transformation and high-quality development, with initiatives like a 5 billion yuan fund for physical bookstore upgrades [20]