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Repro India, the print solutions provider which has doubled its printing capacity, is looking at new opportunities in the domestic and export markets.
The company's recent acquisition of Macmillan's printing operations gives it a third printing unit located near Chennai, thereby allowing greater market access to South-based publishers. The company is also looking at new markets overseas to garner a larger share of outsourced book printing. The other two units are located in Navi Mumbai and Surat.
In the domestic market, the demand is driven by the education sector, which is catalysed by the Right to Education Act and the policies of the State Governments and the Centre. Publishers are also outsourcing book printing increasingly to India — the company's expanded printing capacity of 2 million books a day, twice that in 2010-11 – gives the capacity to grab a larger share of the market, says Mr Mukesh Dhruve, Director and Chief Financial Officer, Repro India.
Overseas focus
The company listed on the NSE and BSE, will focus on the education sector in the domestic market and new markets abroad. In the developing markets, African countries present a potential for growth. In the developed markets, its focus is on the UK, the US, Europe and South East Asia, particularly Singapore.
Mr Dhruve said the print industry is estimated at about $720 billion globally, including the $100 billion education segment, and is growing at about 2-3 per cent. The print industry in India is about $17 billion, to which education contributes about $4-5 billion, and growing at a compound annual growth rate of about 14-15 per cent.
Repro India expects its business in the current year to exceed Rs 300 crore and is growing at about 25-30 per cent, says Mr Dhruve.
India accounts for around 40 per cent of the business (Rs 120 crore) and the balance is from the export markets. It has added adequate capacity to double its business before it will need to further expand capacities.
Book printing in the country is competitive as compared with the Far East or China due to the strong paper manufacturing base here, the advantage of English speaking, skilled human resource and logistics infrastructure which is driving outsourcing to India, he says.
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