Eksmo (Эксмо)

The Russian publishing house “Eksmo” is one of the largest and most influential publishing institutions in modern Russia. Since its establishment in the early 1990s, it has transformed from a small book distribution company into a major publishing powerhouse with broad cultural and commercial influence, holding a central position in the Russian book industry today.

 Foundation and Development

“Eksmo” was founded in 1991 during a period of significant political and economic change in Russia. Initially focused on wholesale book distribution, the company quickly expanded into the publishing sector, becoming a strong competitor in the book market.

From the mid-1990s to the early 2000s, Eksmo pursued a growth strategy that included recruiting influential editors and launching widely distributed literary and commercial series. Over time, Eksmo became a prominent name in commercial publishing, fiction, and popular science books.

A major milestone came when Eksmo merged with the AST publishing house, forming the largest publishing group in Russia and one of the biggest names in Eastern Europe.

Organizational and Editorial Structure

Eksmo operates with a flexible organizational structure divided into several main departments:

Fiction Department

Covers contemporary Russian novels, detective stories, science fiction, romance, and translated world literature.

Children’s and Young Adult Literature Department

One of the most dynamic divisions, producing educational and entertaining series, illustrated encyclopedias, and reprints of classic works.

Production Volume and Market Impact

Eksmo has a massive output, publishing thousands of titles annually and printing tens of millions of copies. This makes it a key player in the Russian book market in terms of:

The publishing house also excels in author rights management, attracting prominent writers, and relaunching literary works that achieve widespread popularity.

Distribution Network and Logistics

Eksmo has one of the strongest distribution networks in Russia, connected to tens of thousands of sales points, including major bookstores, retail stores, and digital platforms.

This system allows the company to reach readers across Russia, including remote areas, as well as Russian-speaking countries abroad.