By the end of the first year of availability, according to the study, more than 15 million tablet computers were in use. In North America alone, the size of the electronic reader market almost doubled, with more than 10 million in use. Early-on, signs of trouble for the publication paper market became clear:
"Many graphic paper producers make their living selling paper to the publishing industry, those companies will be greatly affected by media tablets," explains John Maine, RISI's VP, World Graphic Paper and Study Team Leader. "Significant demand impacts could come as soon as 2012."
The study finds that by 2015, most publishing paper end uses in North America, such as magazine, newspaper, and book publishing, will fall 12% - 21% compared with their 2010 levels. This is on top of the massive collapse that occurred during the recent recession. Paper use in North American books, magazines, and newspapers could see another 40% - 50% fall over the next 15 years.
Market declines are also anticipated in Europe, especially for printed newspapers, but the percentage losses in the Western European market will be somewhat less than North America because of a reduced rate of media tablet adoption and fragmented media markets.
The study forecasts the decline by grade and end-use in the Publication Paper Market over the next 5, 10, and 15 years, analyzing the effects of e-readers and tablet computers on the North American and Western European markets. The forecast covers three scenarios: a base case, strong impact case (with quicker diffusion of tablets to the mass market), and a weak impact scenario.
TAPPI
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