Western European printer and multi-function printer (MFP) shipments kept up the momentum and recorded positive year-on-year results for 4Q13, according to latest figures from International Data Corporation (IDC).
The market increased 5,5% year on year to 6,94-million units, which is an increase of around 360 000 units compared with the same period in 2012. However, price pressure has led to strong ASV declines and the recorded year-on-year value fell 7,4% to $2,92-billion.
Overall, this shows a positive trend, and both laser and inkjet markets showed growth in some segments. Laser markets remained flat for the quarter while inkjets showed growth in the traditionally strong quarter as both consumer and business markets increased.
2013 started off with a very weak quarter in 1Q13 but markets improved toward the end of the year and as a result 2013 growth was flat; when considering that some countries still have economic and political issues the result can be looked at favourably.
Phil Sargeant, programme director of IDC’s Western European Imaging Hardware Devices and Document Solutions group, comments: “These positive results for the quarter show that many companies are continuing to invest in their printing and imaging requirements as confidence in the overall economy improves.
“There are pockets of opportunities for many manufacturers and channel partners, and 2014 is most likely to see the overall market increase. Growth is likely to be steady rather than spectacular.”
Main highlights for the quarter include:
* The overall Western European hardcopy market increased year on year by 5,5% in 4Q13, with gains in both ink and laser markets.
* Total inkjet markets increased 2.6% in the fourth quarter of 2013 from the fourth quarter of 2012. Consumer inkjet markets showed growth of 8,6% in the traditionally strong quarter and business inkjets increased 2,9%, following on from very strong growth in 3Q13.
* The overall laser markets were flat, which is not surprising as markets were very strong in 3Q13 and some stock remained in the channel.
* Both colour and monochrome markets were flat as a result and the growth came from MFP products, though printer shipments declined; printer products still outsold MFP products by more than 2:1 and remain a large opportunity market.
* Serial impact dot matrix markets declined year on year by 32,7%.
* Labels and packaging production markets showed year-on-year growth of 30,3%.
