Western Printer MFPs and Printers Shipments Declined, Revenues Increased

A latest report from IDC shows that Western European printer and multifunction (MFP) market showed a slight decrease in unit during the 4th quarter of 2014 (4Q14). Revenue, however, increased as more high speed laser MFP laser and business inkjets shipped.

The market saw 6.84 million shipments in 4Q14, with a unit decline of 52, 000 units, that’s 0.8% less when compared to the same period in 2013.

According to IDC, “MFP products accounted for 82.4% of all shipments. The overall MFP market increased by a minimal 0.6%, while printers continued to decline at -6.5%. While the laser market showed an overall slight 0.6% year on year decrease, laser MFPs showed the most growth, at 8.3%, with an impressive 17.3% for color devices and a more modest 1.6% for mono. Most of the color growth was again from A4 MFP products, while color printer products declined and a similar pattern occurred with monochrome devices. While the A3 laser market showed a slight increase the overall A4 market showed a decline o f almost 1% indicating the continued threat from business inkjets.”

IDC attributed the revenue increase to the performance of business inkjet and high speed color laser equipment. Business inkjet remains successful, with a 46.1% year on year increase, with 51.0% growth for the MFP devices. Germany alone represents 39% of the business inkjet market, followed by France and the U.K.

“While the inkjet segment has been associated for a long time with the consumer market, business inkjet proved to be a game changer, with excellent growth for the past seven quarters. It is a real alternative to laser and is slowing the decline of the inkjet market,” said Delphine Carnet, senior research analyst in IDC’s Western European Imaging Hardware Devices and Document Solutions group.

Despite the slight decline in Western Europe, the overall MPFs and printer market did recover in 2014 and overall shipments increased by 2.9% for the year and as with recent trends, the switch from single function to multifunction continued in most major segments.

IDC also reports on the 4Q14 performance from different countries, see as follows:

Germany
The German market increased by 6.0% year on year in Q414, which is a very different trend than the Western European average. Business inkjet markets were very strong and increased year on year by 61.6%, while other types of inkjet devices actually decreased by 5%.

The laser market in Germany did show some growth and this was actually due to color while monochrome showed a negative trend. Both single and multifunction markets increased, with most gains due to business inkjets and color laser devices. Monochrome shipments contracted sharply, especially printers, while MFP shipments slightly increased year on year.

France
In contrast to German growth, shipments in France in Q414 contracted by 3.6% when compared to the same period last year. Inkjet demand remained flat while laser markets decreased 13.1%. The consumer markets for inkjet showed a small decline but there was actually a solid increase of 26.9% for business inkjets in France, but increases were not enough to counteract the declines seen in consumer markets. Surprisingly, single function inkjet shipments saw a 12.9% increase while both inkjet and laser MFPs decreased.

United Kingdom
The United Kingdom recorded an 8.6% decline and in sharp contrast to Germany the U.K. saw year on year decreases in both inkjet and laser markets. As a result the U.K. lost his rank from the second to third largest market in Western Europe. More positively, the U.K. enjoyed a very good performance in the business inkjet segment with a 26.3% increase. Laser markets decreased 7.6% when compared to the same period last year, with growth only being seen with color MFPs. Laser printers continued to decline with double digit declines being registered.

(Source: IDC)