Print advertising in India has seen a marginal increase in ad space during the first nine months of 2025, with a 3% rise compared to the same period in 2024, according to TAM AdEx. Over 116K advertisers were active in print, while more than 1.44 lakh brands maintained a presence across publications, reflecting a resilient medium despite emerging digital competition.
The education sector led print advertising, capturing a 17% share of ad space, followed by the auto sector at 16% and the services sector at 15%. Cars retained the top position as the most advertised category with a 9% share, while multiple courses emerged as one of the fastest-growing categories in print. Two-wheelers also witnessed notable growth, rising from fourth to third place with a 6% share of ad space.
Among advertisers, Maruti Suzuki India and Hero Motocorp maintained their top positions, while Reliance Retail, Samsung India Electronics, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter, TVS Motor Company, Bajaj Auto, and Titan Company featured prominently in the top 10, collectively accounting for a 13% share of total ad space.
Maruti Car Range emerged as the leading brand in print during this period, followed by Honda Shine 100 and Allen Career Institute. The auto sector dominated five of the top 10 brand positions, underlining its aggressive print strategy.
Sales promotion advertising contributed 31% of print ad space in Jan–Sep 2025. Among these, multiple promotions captured 48% of the sales promotion ad space, followed by discount promotions with 40%, together covering 88% of promotional ads.
The report indicates that print continues to play a key role for categories valuing credibility, reach, and regional penetration, with education, auto, and services sectors leading the charge in 2025.
