SEVILLA, 23 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Andalusian publishers face “optimism” this International Book dayand they hope it reflects the growth of 10-15% that the first quarter of the year achieved, according to estimates of the Association of Editors of Andalusia (AEA), which represents a forecast of increased sales of April 23, 2024.
Speaking to Europa Press, its president, Jesús Baranco, has underlined Europa Press that it is “a day of celebration of reading and edition”, which, which represents 5-10% of sales For the sector in Spain, a figure that rises to 12% in Catalonia thanks to its popular ‘Sant Jordi’.
This day, recalled the president of AEA, is an opportunity to claim the work of writers, editors, translators, concealers, illustrators, designers, booksellers and printers, and “reinforces the idea of the book as an essential cultural good“.
He has highlighted the “Commercial impulse“From one of the days” of greater sale of the year for publishers and bookstores “, in which” firms of books, fairs and presentations that bring the reader to the author and boost the market are organized. “
“It is a day to give visibility for authors and news,” Baranco continued, who stressed that “many publishers launch new titles or reissued works already previously published” on this day, so it constitutes “an ideal showcase to promote books and authors.”
He explained that activities are promoted in schools, libraries and cultural centers to promote reading from an early age, “something crucial for the future of the sector”, and added that today is a day “To consolidate the link with readers”since “publishers and booksellers have the opportunity to approach them in a more direct way, creating community and long -term fidelity.”
Book Fairs: “Very good sales” in Almería’s
During these weeks it is when “most Andalusian fairs of the book in Andalusia are celebrated,” recalled Baranco, who stressed that the one held in Almería, between April 1 and 6, ended with “very good sales.”
In the short term, they face the Book Fair of Malaga (April 30-11. Other similar fairs in capital of Andalusia are those of Jaén and Granada (May 9 – 18), Cádiz (June 27 – July 6), Córdoba and Huelva (October 17 – 26) and Seville (October 23 – November 2).
“From our Association of Editors, at all Andalusian fairs we have a booth where Andalusian publishers can expose all their editorial production,” said Barranco. In addition, “we went to the Madrid Book Fair, and this year we intend to go to the Salamanca Book Fair and Murcia. All that with the aim of carrying Andalusian production as distant as possible so that it can be known.”
Internationalization
But the production of Andalusian publishers cross the borders of Spain. In the internationalization of the sector also The Board plays an important rolewhich promotes different initiatives, such as “reverse missions, where Spanish -American buyers come to Andalusia and Andalusian publishers show their catalogs, with the possibility of being able to sell it in America.”
In addition, “this year we have gone to the Guadalajara International Book Fair, in Mexico, thanks to the help of the Ministry of Culture of the Junta de Andalucía, and specifically, through the Andalusian Center of the Letter and the Andalusian Agency of Cultural Institutions, with which we are having very good collaboration, because the intention is not only to go to Guadalajara, but also to the Iber Children’s and youth Book of Bologna in 2026 “.
In this framework, he stressed that Sector exports reached 18 million euros in 2024with an interannual growth of 24.9%. The United States was positioned as the main destination, with five million euros in sales, representing 25% of the total and a growth of 165% compared to the same period of the previous year.
Important growth since 2024
In addition, Baranco has valued that sales for the sector have already increased by 2024 to 28.8% in Andalusia, with the Publication of 12,931 worksaccording to the Board data. Of these, 81.6% corresponded to paper books, “reaffirming the preference for this format in the region,” says the president of the Association of Editors of Andalusia.
Thus, the sector is going through a stage of prominent growth since last year, the editor details. Baranco justifies this improvement in the greater interest in youth and child literaturewhich “is assuming an incredible support for the sale of books”, being “the section that is growing most”, thus with the economic situation accompanied by lower inflation.
