Top book printers -- El-Hi, Trade Fuel Optimism

"I had one customer tell me that India has not had dramatic paper price increases," says Rob Krehbiel. "Suddenly it has become a very desirable region to produce books."

Offshore manufacturing is a reality in today's book market and, to put it bluntly, book manufacturers either need to adapt or perish, according to many industry players. Strategies to compete with offshore facilities run the gamut from establishing plants overseas to offering discounts on reprints.