IDC Reports Growth in Western European Hardcopy Markets

An International Data Corporation (IDC) study of Western Europe finds the overall hardware market revived in the second quarter of 2013 with an increase of 4.3% in the to over 4.69 million units compared to 4.50 million units in the same period last year. IDC claims commercial printing markets have taken the lead as laser shipments increased year-on-year (YoY)by 11.6%, while inkjet shipments remained flat. On the other hand, strong competition in many segments led to a 3.3% decline in the dollar value market for hardware in 2Q2013 compared to 2Q2012.

Main Highlights of the report include:

• The total Western European hardcopy market increased 4.3% YoY in 2Q13, but some country growth patterns remained negative.

• Total inkjet markets remained flat as they increased only 0.1% in 2Q2013 over 2Q2012. Inkjet printers continued to decline as anticipated and MFP shipments increased.

• The majority of market growth is attributed to increases in laser products. Both printers and MFPs showed double-digit growth.

• Color products posted the strongest YoY growth at 17.3%. Actually, the entire color segment showed strength with both the A4 and A3 printer segments and MFPs increasing.

• The overall monochrome market grew YoY by 10.1%, while the A3 market for color continued to slide, as expected.

• Business inkjets increased YoY by 22.5% to over 345K units, but consumer inkjets contracted once again by 2.3% to just over 2.56 million.

• High speed inkjets retained their record YoY growth of 57.1%.

According to IDC data, the overall German market increased by almost 88K units, or 8.6%, shipments in France increased by almost 53K units or 6.9% YOY. However, the overall United Kingdom market declined 3.0% YOY.

Arnaud Gagneux, Director of IDC’s Western European Imaging Hardware Devices and Document Solutions group, said, “Mobility, security and the explosion of digital content is driving the need for modern devices that control, monitor and enable users to print at their convenience while ensuring that businesses comply with the latest regulations.”

Phil Sargeant, Program Director of IDC’s Western European Imaging Hardware Devices and Document Solutions group, commented, “There have been signs in recent quarters that market declines were slowing, and particularly strong laser shipments in 2Q2013 have led to the first YoY growth for the hardware market in 2 years. More countries that displayed growth than declines but it remains to be seen if this momentum can continue for the rest of the year.”