The show organiser said that despite a warm response to the concept of the specialist trade fair for commercial publishing and digital printing, indications were that participation by the industry would "not be sufficient to truly mirror the sector".

Manuel Mataré, director of digi:media, said: "It was a hard decision for us to cancel digi:media 2013. But given the current state of registrations and the unlikely prospect of a radical turnaround in registration patterns, it was time to pull the ripcord.

"We carefully analysed the pros and cons – especially because of the particularly strong commitment of our partners. But one thing is clear: Messe Düsseldorf always has been and always will be a reliable and responsible partner of industry.

"In this context, it was also important for us to give planning certainty to the exhibitors who have registered already and not to confront these companies with short-term decisions."

The Messe blamed the decision on "cancellations, cutbacks of exhibition space - but above all the pronounced reserve shown by representative players in the sector" which cast doubt over the show's ability to "do justice to its own quality claims and the interests of the industry".

While the 2013 show will not go ahead as planned, the organiser said that it would examine whether and to what extent individual elements of the content aspect of the show might be realised in Dusseldorf in future.