The fair coincides with notable growth in Chinese publishing. OpenBook reports double-digit growth in trade, academic, and digital publishing.

Running 18-22 June, the Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF) will significantly expand its academic publishing focus, introducing a new STM (Science, Technology, and Medicine) conference alongside a dedicated Academic Digital Publishing Hub.

Growing Global Presence

Organised by the China National Publications Import and Export (Group) Co., Ltd. (CNPIEC), BIBF continues attracting an international audience. Over 200 global libraries and research institutions will attend, alongside 1,700 exhibitors from 80 countries, nine more than last year.

Optimism in the Chinese Market

The fair coincides with notable growth in Chinese publishing. OpenBook reports double-digit growth in trade, academic, and digital publishing, driven by local authors such as Liu Cixin (The Three-Body Problem). International authors are thriving, particularly in children’s books, with Christian Jolibois (France) and Erin Hunter (UK) ranking among China’s top sellers.

New and Returning Exhibitors

First-time participants include Bangladesh, Chile, Croatia, Belarus, Oman, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Jamaica, joining regulars such as the UK, USA, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, Iran, UAE, Malaysia, Russia, and Saudi Arabia.

New Conferences Target Key Sectors

Ahead of the fair, BIBF hosts two major conferences:

PubTech Conference (16 June): Explores publishing’s future with global technology leaders.

STM APAC Conference (17 June): Launched with the STM Association, this inaugural forum focuses on innovation-driven academic publishing across Asia-Pacific.

Academic and Digital Publishing Innovation

The Academic Digital Publishing Hub will facilitate exchanges on digital solutions in academia, reflecting a trend where Chinese university libraries allocate over 65% of budgets to electronic resources. Leading publishers such as Wiley, Pearson, and Oxford University Press generate over 70% of revenue from digital channels, underscoring the hub’s significance.

Art, Illustration, and Picture Books

BIBF’s cultural programming includes:

Art Book Fair (The Art of Seeing), featuring a David Hockney exhibition.

Illustration Exhibition, with an esteemed international jury.

Picture Book Fair (10th edition), strengthening ties between Chinese and global publishers.

Malaysia as Country of Honour

Malaysia will lead a delegation of 50 representatives, including government agencies, university presses, and creative studios.

Retail Market Growth

China’s book retail market grew 10.77% year-on-year (Q1 2025), driven by education, well-being, and AI-related content. Social media video channels remain a major force in book sales, contributing to the highest new title output in a decade.

This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.