What are your predictions or expectations for your market for 2019?

Russia

Stanislav Malinskiy

General Director, Information Agency “BUSINESS-INFORM”

• The value of the Russian market will continue to be stable.
• The share of products made in Russia will rise.
• Consumers, corporate and government buyers will consider the environmental impact before buying cheap, compatible cartridges that use toner and plastics that are not safe. These factors will change the Russian market surely.
• The sale of cheap, compatible cartridges in procurement contracts will slow because customers will be looking for higher quality cartridges in the aftermarket.

USA
Aaron Leon

Founder/CEO, LD Products, Inc.

We expect to see mergers and acquisitions in all parts of the imaging supplies value chain and are looking to further our growth by playing a role where we see the most value. The normal low single-digit decline in overall units sold and GMV will continue, but we expect the managed print and e-commerce sectors to continue to expand in an overall shrinking market in North America. The strong players will continue to expand or stay even, while companies without strong brands, quality or technology will face double-digit declines. Established brands that can effectively navigate a changing landscape will have an opportunity to shape the market as more areas of the industry adapt and consolidate.

Japan
Masato Emori

President, Hara Trading Co., Ltd.

2019 will be a challenging year for the Japanese marketplace. E&Q (Ecology & Quality) and STMC standards are an important consideration for Japanese companies or government offices who purchase remanufactured cartridges. Legal issues, such as the command of intellectual property rights, will continue to confront Japanese remanufacturers. Those component and cartridge suppliers that provide a better alternative that are safe to the environment will survive and thrive in 2019.

USA
Tricia Judge

Executive Director, International Imaging Technology Councuil

China will continue to be the focal point of the cartridge remanufacturing industry. From a North American perspective, that means struggling with cheap competition. However, that’s nothing new. And China is clearly feeling the effects of the cold-shoulder U.S. trade policy. Likewise, as the North American market did before it, Chinese remanufacturers are consolidating. They have been over-producing cartridges for years now, and they are investing in bigger spaces and more production. That is bound to stop…and stop soon. Those remanufacturers left in the North American marketplace, led by Clover, are survivors. They have carved out their customer base and kept them despite the Asian invasion and the Internet’s effect. I think they are due for a very good year.
USA

Hugo Ponsonnet

LMI

2019 will be a telling year as the market continues to consolidate and move to a more services-focused selling strategy. LMI has positioned itself as the innovator with its MPS software, helping dealers to further differentiate themselves in an effort to stop competing at the fifth decimal. Solutions are the future, thus many manufacturers have begun efforts to create software tools that can further streamline automation. LMI envisioned this market trend years ago, and in turn, has spent the past several years developing and investing in the most elite MPS software portfolio in the marketplace.

China

David Gibbons

RT Media (RT Imaging World magazine)

• China will continue to dominate the global printing supplies industry. Chinese print supplies companies will not be fazed by the ongoing trade war with the USA, and will continue to grow exports to other countries particularly those identified in the one belt one road initiative.
• One or two iconic brands will be snapped up as the industry continues to consolidate. At the same time, China’s own domestic market will continue to grow and will soon be valued higher than the US market in terms of printer and consumables sales.
• Those manufacturing the low-priced, Chinese new-build cartridges will either be pushed out of the market having over capitalized and over produced as distributors and consumers demand a better quality product, even if they have to pay more for it. Buyers will continue to shop more and more for relationships with suppliers that can provide a consistent and reliable quality rather than price alone.