The UK printing industry closed 2025 with its strongest output and order performance in four years, according to the BPIF Printing Outlook Q1 2026 survey. Half of responding companies (50%) reported increased output in Q4 2025, with 35% maintaining steady production and only 12% experiencing a decline. This resulted in an output balance of +35, slightly below Q3’s +39 and short of the +45 forecast, but still the second-highest reported level since Q4 2021, signaling a solid finish to the year.
The results cap a gradual recovery that began in 2024 after a difficult 2023. While the first half of 2025 was marked by cost pressures and economic uncertainty, performance improved through Q2 and Q3, with Q4 maintaining momentum, though it fell just shy of expectations. By recent standards, the sector’s activity levels remain healthy, reflecting resilience across commercial print, packaging, and specialist segments.
However, as 2026 begins, confidence in the general state of the trade has softened. Printers cite concerns around the UK’s economic outlook and rising costs, even as many remain optimistic about their own businesses. The forecast for Q1 2026 output remains positive, though less robust than the highs seen in late 2025. Encouragingly, investment intentions remain strong, suggesting that while macro-level uncertainty persists, many companies are positioning themselves for continued growth.
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