The OEM’s net sales increased 22 percent to $11 billion from $9 billion. Gross profit also rose 37 percent to $5.4 billion for the three months ended 30 June.
For the first half of the year, Canon reported net sales of $19 billion, up 16 percent for the same period last year.
Regarding the office equipment market, the firm said: “Demand for monochrome models also finally headed toward recovery. Additionally, the market for laser printers achieved a turnaround compared with the previous year.”
Sales of Canon’s colour network digital multifunctional devices increased by 39 percent. It says this was “boosted by the recovery in demand for office equipment along with the introduction of new image RUNNER ADVANCE-series products”.
Sales for monochrome models increased 21 percent, “reflecting the recovering market conditions”.
Canon added: “Laser printers, which suffered sluggish sales in the corresponding quarter of the previous year largely due to an adjustment of inventory levels, realized a significant increase in sales volume of 103 percent, almost double that of the previous year.
“Consequently, despite the significant effects of the strong yen, second-quarter sales for the segment totaled $5.9 billion, growing 31 percent year on year. Operating profit increased 98 percent to $952 million for the second quarter, mainly as a result of expanded sales and the sharp rise in the gross profit ratio.”
The company also reported that the Asian economies, such as China and India, along with other emerging countries, “continued to display solid growth”. It added that Japan saw a “rapid increase in exports, mainly to Asian countries”.
Canon said that Europe and the US “continued to record a recovery in consumer spending along with steady export growth”.
For the coming year, Canon predicts sales of inkjet printers “will likely expand gradually” in response to the economic turnaround.