Consumer markets for printers continue to slide, but business markets show some early signs of recovery, according to research conducted by International Data Corporation (IDC).
The overall hardcopy market declined by 14,5% in the first quarter of 2013 to just over 5-million units, compared to 5,8-million units a year ago. Hardcopy market value also showed a decline of 9,5% to $2,6-billion in 11Q3 from $2,9-billion in 11Q2 as intense competition and sluggish markets sent street prices in many segments into decline.
Arnaud Gagneux, director of IDC’s Western European Imaging Hardware Devices and Document Solutions group, says: “The latest first quarter shipments reflect the lack of improvement in the economic fortunes in Europe. Businesses are focused on driving down the costs of their operations and improving efficiencies thanks to managed print services and effective document solutions. Some product categories are nonetheless proving attractive to businesses such as A3 Inkjet MFPs.”
Phil Sargeant, program director of IDC’s Western European Imaging Hardware Devices and Document Solutions group, comments: “Overall markets are generally weak, with consumer markets particularly hard hit. Consumer confidence is low, unemployment is high, economies are fragile and suppliers are battling with other consumer IT vendors for share of consumer spend.
“There are signs in some countries that shipments of laser devices are picking up, but growth rates are small when considering the declines of the previous year.”
Growth and decline patterns across countries certainly aren’t uniform, and some manufacturers fared better than others during the first quarter of 2013. HP retains overall leadership of the market, with 35,9% of all shipments despite year on year declines, while Canon in contrast increased its sales and leapt up to 18.0% as its inkjet and laser divisions both had good quarters.
Brother also showed year on year increases for its major technology areas and captured 12,6%, followed by Epson (12,1%), whose sales declined, while Samsung came in fifth with 8,7% as its laser sales increased.
The overall Western European hardcopy market declined year on year by 14,5% in 1Q13 with many countries showing double-digit declines.
Total Inkjet markets contracted year on year by 20,5% in the first quarter with the main decline seen in consumer markets. The only inkjet segment to show growth was the A3 MFP market.
Overall laser markets slipped back by 1,3% compared to a year ago but many countries have actually showed some degree of growth.
Despite the overall laser decline, year on year growth was seen in the A3 colour MFP markets and the A4 monochrome MFP markets. All other segments declined.
Overall production markets increased by 4,3% compared to a year ago. Growth was seen in both monochrome laser markets, but high-speed inkjets saw year on year declines.
The big three countries of Germany, France and the UK accounted for 59,2% of all Western European shipments, which is slightly down from a year ago.
Arnaud Gagneux, director of IDC’s Western European Imaging Hardware Devices and Document Solutions group, says: “The latest first quarter shipments reflect the lack of improvement in the economic fortunes in Europe. Businesses are focused on driving down the costs of their operations and improving efficiencies thanks to managed print services and effective document solutions. Some product categories are nonetheless proving attractive to businesses such as A3 Inkjet MFPs.”
Phil Sargeant, program director of IDC’s Western European Imaging Hardware Devices and Document Solutions group, comments: “Overall markets are generally weak, with consumer markets particularly hard hit. Consumer confidence is low, unemployment is high, economies are fragile and suppliers are battling with other consumer IT vendors for share of consumer spend.
“There are signs in some countries that shipments of laser devices are picking up, but growth rates are small when considering the declines of the previous year.”
Growth and decline patterns across countries certainly aren’t uniform, and some manufacturers fared better than others during the first quarter of 2013. HP retains overall leadership of the market, with 35,9% of all shipments despite year on year declines, while Canon in contrast increased its sales and leapt up to 18.0% as its inkjet and laser divisions both had good quarters.
Brother also showed year on year increases for its major technology areas and captured 12,6%, followed by Epson (12,1%), whose sales declined, while Samsung came in fifth with 8,7% as its laser sales increased.
The overall Western European hardcopy market declined year on year by 14,5% in 1Q13 with many countries showing double-digit declines.
Total Inkjet markets contracted year on year by 20,5% in the first quarter with the main decline seen in consumer markets. The only inkjet segment to show growth was the A3 MFP market.
Overall laser markets slipped back by 1,3% compared to a year ago but many countries have actually showed some degree of growth.
Despite the overall laser decline, year on year growth was seen in the A3 colour MFP markets and the A4 monochrome MFP markets. All other segments declined.
Overall production markets increased by 4,3% compared to a year ago. Growth was seen in both monochrome laser markets, but high-speed inkjets saw year on year declines.
The big three countries of Germany, France and the UK accounted for 59,2% of all Western European shipments, which is slightly down from a year ago.