UK print companies are predicting that output will have grown over the summer after new data revealed a springtime downturn.
Political uncertainties and conflict in the Middle East conspired to push the UK printing and printed packaging industry into a downturn in April to June, according to the latest British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF) Printing Outlook survey.
The data depicted an industry suffering from a concentrated period of cost increases, making some degree of price increases necessary. However, these increases were not quite enough to protect cash flow, margins and profits or, in many cases, to grow or maintain demand.
The BPIF survey revealed that 42% of printers experienced a decrease in their output levels in the second quarter of 2026. However, 37% were able to hold output steady while the remaining 21% achieved an increase in output levels.
For the third quarter of 2026, respondents indicated that output from July to September was set to be “more positive”. Output growth was expected to increase for 33% of companies.
BPIF economist Kyle Jardine commented: “Companies have referenced confidence being hit by uncertainty, leading to delays in purchasing decisions and investments.
“Most costs have increased by similar amounts in a short period of time – but not all have been passed on as price increases.
“Orders and output have taken a knock but the industry is expecting some degree of recovery as we move into the second half of the year.
“Despite the future direction of Government policy still being unclear, and the lack of endgame certainty over conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, the industry is forecasting that Q2 will be the low point for 2026 and that confidence and activity levels will improve in Q3.”
BPIF chief executive Charles Jarrold added: “Industry demand, profit levels and concerns that some competitors are pricing below cost are the significant concerns being voiced by companies.
“Hopefully a pick-up in confidence, a fall in uncertainty and an increase in demand in the second half of this year will go some way to allay these concerns.
“Of course, some other persistent and common gripes remain: lack of investment support, an increasing regulatory burden, more obstacles in trading with the EU, recruiting difficulties, damaging effects of minimum wage increases, and inconsistencies in business rates – to list a few.
“We do of course voice such concerns in our regular representations to Government. We’ll find out more about the direction the new Prime Minister will take in the next few weeks and months.”
The survey was caried in July involving 103 companies employing 10,047 people with a combined turnover of £1.7 billion.
