According to the German Publishers and Booksellers Association (Börsenverein), the situation for publishers in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia is tense ahead of the Frankfurt Book Fair (October 7–11). High cost pressures resulting from the overall economic situation are taking a toll on these mostly small companies, according to the regional association of the German Publishers and Booksellers Association. At the same time, customers’ purchasing power is dwindling and the number of readers is declining. Small independent publishers are also finding it difficult to gain visibility in the book trade. They lack the resources for large-scale marketing. According to the Börsenverein, a total of 21 publishers from the three states are exhibiting at the Frankfurt Book Fair. The number of publishers based in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia has been declining for years. It fell from 337 in 2019 to 239 in 2025. The nationwide book market is also weakening. Industry revenue fell by 2.7 percent last year. In the first half of 2026, a decline of 4.1 percent was recorded compared to the same period the previous year, the Börsenverein reported. The industry association cited a weak economy and a strong tendency among citizens to save their money as the reasons for this. Copyright 2026, dpa (www.dpa.de). All rights reserved
