According to International Publishing Monitor in London, 1998 was dominated by a frenzy of mergers and acquisitions. Bertelsmann bought Springer and Berlin Verlag; Holtzbrinck merged with Weltbild.

According to Buchreport, the German industry rag, the top 100 publishers, with 450-odd imprints and subsidiaries, increased sales over 5% to a value of $5.2 billion, with over 77,000 titles produced. But the growth is due mostly to two companies: Konemann and Weltbild, both specializing in low cost paperbacks and promotional titles.

TOP 10 Companies Sales
(in million DM)
Bertelsmann Buch AG
1010.0
Weka
658.4
Springer
390.4
Ernst Kiett
350.0
Weltbild
334.7
Cornelsen
290.0
SV Professional Pubs
268.3
C.H. Beck
210.0
Mairs Geo. Verlag
205.0
Haufe
200.8


For a thorough analysis in English, contact International Publishing Monitor at www.imp-group.com.

Read the previous Country Report on Germany.

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