Canon to Shut Down Philippines Laser Printer Plant

Canon to Shut Down Philippines Laser Printer Plant

Canon will shut down its laser printer manufacturing plant in the Philippines by June 19, ending production at the company’s only factory in the country as it restructures operations amid weakening global demand for office printers.

The factory, located in Batangas province south of Manila, once employed as many as 5,500 workers but currently has around 1,400 employees. Canon said the closure reflects a long-term decline in the office laser printer market, driven in part by changing work styles and reduced office printing needs.

A company spokesperson confirmed that production will end permanently rather than being transferred to another country. Canon said it had reviewed multiple options before deciding to scale back manufacturing capacity.

The Batangas facility opened in 2013 and is operated by local subsidiary Canon Business Machines Philippines inside the First Philippine Industrial Park. The plant primarily manufactured laser printers and related components for export markets. Canon had previously invested about ¥18 billion (roughly $115 million) in the site.

The closure follows a similar move in China, where Canon ended laser printer production at its Zhongshan plant in November 2025, citing the same market slowdown. With the company now exiting laser printer manufacturing in both China and the Philippines within a short period, the decisions are increasingly being viewed as part of a broader strategic reassessment of the laser printer business itself, rather than an isolated cost-cutting measure.

Although laser printers remain one of Canon’s major product categories — alongside office multifunction devices and cameras — the segment has been under pressure. In its latest annual report, Canon said laser printer sales fell 4.6% year-on-year, with especially weak demand in Europe and China. The company noted that the overall printing market is mature and expected to continue shrinking gradually.

By contrast, Canon is placing greater emphasis on inkjet printers, digital commercial printing, industrial printing, and cloud-connected office services. Recent company reports highlighted expansion plans for high-capacity inkjet models, while references to laser printers were comparatively limited.

The factory closure also aligns with Canon’s medium-term management strategy beginning in 2026, which calls for a global review of company assets and consolidation of overseas production sites to improve efficiency and return on equity.

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• Canon Rolls Out New A4 imageCLASS Office Printers
• Canon Expands imageFORCE Printer Lineup with New Models
• Canon Expands Remanufacturing Site to the U.S.

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