There were 555 certified publishers in 1993. Euromonitor The Dutch language market includes the 15 million residents of the Netherlands plus six million people in Northern Belgium. Most of the trade is with other European countries. The Centraal Boekhuis, an important part of the distribution system in the Netherlands, is a non- profit wholesaler, jointly owned by the publisher's and retailer's association. Currently, over 300 publishers use the Centraal Boekhuis fulfilment services, though 200 of them do some direct fulfilment as well.
Literature is the top sector in terms of both sales and volume.
Like in the UK, price of books have been rising in France, faster than the retail price index. Traditional book stores are the top distribution channel in France. Like many other European countries, the retail price of books is controlled. In what appears to be a global trend, the publishing industry in France is becoming more concentrated, with a decline in the number of publishers. The top publisher, in terms of turn over, in France is Matre Hachette.