Thursday, July 10, 2025
Market Trends and Highlights for Q2, 2025
Time is ticking, and June is wrapping up soon. So, what were the “hot” news stories that captured the buyer’s attention most in the past three months? And what market highlights defined Q2, 2025?
Market Trends:
- Ink Tank Models in High Demand Globally
According to IDC, ink tank printers continued to expand their global market presence in Q2 2025, marking the fourth straight quarter of year-over-year growth. IDC noted that ink tank printers are increasingly favoured across most regions due to their eco-friendly, refillable design, which reduces cartridge waste.
- Strong Adoption of Thermal Receipt Printers
Driven by the rapid growth of e-commerce worldwide, thermal receipt printers also saw significant adoption in the retail sector, as reported by the Qianzhan Industry Research Institute. Known for their convenience, cost-effectiveness, and eco-friendly attributes, these printers are increasingly used in mobile point-of-sale (mPOS) systems, especially tablet-based POS setups.
- Global Large-Format Printer Sales Fall Below Pre-Pandemic Level
According to IDC, global sales of large-format printers reached US$190 million in 2024, down 1.4% year-on-year, due to the sluggish global economy. However, the figure is only 70% of the 2019 level.
Equipment Highlights:
- Garment Printer
In April, Epson launched its first wide-format direct-to-film (DTF) printers—the SureColor G6070 through its authorized resellers. Designed for reliability, the SureColor G6070 allows users to scale up production and easily print oversized graphics. It also delivers ease of use, low maintenance, and consistent print quality for garment decorators looking to embellish a wide variety of materials.
The same month, Ricoh launched its new garment printer, the RICOH Ri 4000, designed for direct printing on garment fabrics such as T-shirts. Launched in Japan in late April 2025, it features Ricoh’s proprietary enhancer system, enabling printing on a wide variety of fabrics, including polyester, cotton, and blends, without manual pre-treatment. It also supports direct-to-film (DTF) printing, offering greater flexibility for fabric applications.
- Large-Format Printer
In April, Canon introduced the imagePROGRAF TC-21 and TC-21M—compact four-color (CMYK) large-format desktop printers targeting professionals in architecture, engineering, design, retail, and education. The TC-21M features an A4 scanner and can produce large-format copies without a computer. Both models support A1+ printing and come with an auto sheet feeder for paper sizes from A3 to A6.
In May, HP unveiled the HP Latex 730 and HP Latex 830 Printer Series at PacPrint 2025. These water-based large-format printers are tailored for SEMs, offering high-impact print quality, improved productivity and a sustainability edge.
- On-demand Printer
In April, Roland DG Corporation announced the VersaOBJECT LO-640/300 series, an on-demand printing solution that enables high-precision direct printing on 3D objects made from nearly any material, previously only achievable through pad or screen printing.
- Portable Label Printer
In June, G&G released GG-D110, a half-inch portable label printer, designed for a new generation of users who value simplicity and mobility.
Other Highlights:
- Strategic Investment in AI
Kyocera signed a licensing agreement with Quadric for its Chimaera General-Purpose Neural Processing Unit (GPNPU) technology. Designed for efficient on-device AI processing, the GPNPU blends neural network acceleration with general-purpose computing. According to Quocirca, this move signals Kyocera’s strategic push to integrate advanced AI capabilities into its future printing solutions, potentially accelerating the use of AI across the print industry.
In May, Canon launched the imageFORCE C5100 and 6100. Powered by Canon’s pioneering machine-learning imageFORCE technology platform, the two new MFPs are designed to help businesses enhance their workflows and digitally transform through new levels of performance, quality and innovation.
- Digital Transformation
Earlier in June, Kyocera America launched Kyocera Cloud Capture (KCC), a powerful, cloud-based document capture solution designed to simplify and accelerate digital transformation for businesses of all sizes. Two weeks later, Kyocera Document Solutions America launched a series of 10 cloud-ready A3 MFPs, comprising six color models and four monochrome ones.
- Adoption of Chinese Technology
On May 26, China printer OEM Deli launched its latest printer series featuring chips and processors independently developed by Loogson, a domestic microprocessor company. The upgrade improves productivity while enhancing data security and system control.
Also in May, 31 of Canon(China) printer models officially passed the HarmonyOS NEXT certification, making Canon one of the first printer manufacturers to achieve this milestone. This move strengthens Canon’s partnership with Huawei and showcases its commitment to a secure, intelligent, and efficient HarmonyOS ecosystem.
Opinions
“Everyone assumes recycling alone can handle our global waste crisis; it can’t. The real solution is Circularity + Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).”
—GreenForest Solutions GmbH
“In the U.S. laser MFP market during 2024, A4 gained share from A3. The shift from monochrome to color is expected to continue. Therefore, over the forecast period, A4 color laser MFPs offer the greatest opportunity for growth.”
—Geoffrey Wilbur, Research Manager, Imaging, Printing, and Document Solutions group at IDC.
“Japan Post’s Digital Address system may soon become a global benchmark for combining smart logistics, digital identity, and environmental efficiency. It’s not just a new way to send mail—it’s a powerful signal of transformation.”
—Koichi Yoshizuka, Founder and CEO of QRIE Ltd.
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What other trends have you noticed in your region? Let us know in the comments below.
Maggie Wang has been delivering valuable information and updates about the imaging industry through RT channels (website, magazines and social media platforms) during the past 9 years. She has also extensively covered major events such as the annual RemaxWorld Expo and VIP Imaging Expos through press releases, articles, and interview videos. She can be contacted at <Maggie.Wang@rtmworld.com>.
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