In 2022 the Russian publishing landscape saw a notable pullback: newspapers faced a 10 percent drop in output while magazines declined by about 3.4 percent. The retreat was linked to a mix of economic strain and political decisions that influenced which titles could stay in print. This summary draws on data reported by Kommersant and sourced from the Russian Book Room, reflecting the broader market during the year.
Total annual newspaper circulation across the Russian Federation reached roughly 3.94 billion copies, a decline of about 9 percent from 2021 when circulation hovered near 4.32 billion copies. The average single issue dropped to around 14,700 copies, a 10 percent decrease that signals weakening consumer reach and print viability. Magazines also faced shrinking volumes in 2022, with the number of issues edged down by about 3.47 percent, landing at around 41.7 thousand copies for the period. This combination of shrinking output and lower per-issue circulation painted a subdued picture for overall periodical publishing in the country.
Industry experts and market participants attribute much of the decline to strategic withdrawals by major players and the revocation of foreign licenses for several journals. Cost pressures also accelerated, with printing and production costs rising by roughly 30 percent on average last year. Yet, the decline in retail sales was cushioned by a rise in paid subscriptions, which provided a steadier revenue stream amid the turmoil in the traditional retail chain and distribution network. The shift toward subscription models helped some publishers weather the downturn, even as overall print demand softened.
Several market observers pointed to distribution challenges that compounded the drop in readership. The number of press kiosks dwindled, and some points moved to less trafficked locations, reducing impulsive purchases and visibility. Geopolitical tensions, the rapid growth of online media, and tighter advertising markets all played a role in shaping newspapers and magazines’ performance. These factors created a fragile ecosystem where print titles faced intensified competition from digital platforms, while advertisers redirected spend toward channels with broader reach and measurable return on investment. The current outlook suggests these dynamics would continue into 2023, shaping strategic priorities for publishers and distributors alike.
In the book market, 2022 also showed a notable downturn. Sales across book categories fell by nearly 10 percent, according to Oleg Novikov, head of the Eksmo-AST publishing group. He described the decrease in book sales as a consequence of consumer behavior shifts where books are not considered essential purchases in a volatile economy. The broader context points to a transformation in how readers allocate discretionary spending, with longer replacement cycles, a tilt toward value-driven purchases, and increased reliance on digital formats. Industry observers emphasize that while the headline numbers may look discouraging, the resilience of certain segments underlines opportunities for adaptation, including bundled offers, enhanced online storefronts, and selective inventory management that aligns with reader demand. The year 2022 thus stands as a turning point—both a signal of difficulty and a prompt for publishers to recalibrate strategies toward sustainability and growth in the evolving market.