IDC reports year-over-year contraction of 5.6 percent, while regional and segment results were mixed.
The first quarter of 2013 saw the worldwide large format printer (LFP) market contract 5.6 percent compared to the same quarter a year ago, although Japan’s LFP market grew for the fifth consecutive year both in terms of units shipped, which increased by 1.2 percent, and the value of shipments, which grew to 1.7 percent.
The shipment value for the worldwide LFP market, however, declined 12 percent year-over-year on shipments of nearly 75,000 units; while Phuong Hang, Program Manager of Worldwide Large Format Printer Trackers, commented that “shipments of UV-curable inkjet devices have been growing over the past three years. IDC expects this trend to continue at a steady pace for the next three years”.
The technical sector remains the larger application segment with 49,000 units shipped in the quarter, representing 61 percent of the total LFP market compared to 57 percent in the previous year. The best performance regions in terms of unit shipments were found to be Japan, which saw a 7.5 percent year-over-year growth, and the US which grew 11.5 percent.
The worst performing segment was the graphics application segment, which saw a decline of 20 percent at 29,000 units shipped and a decline in market share from 43 percent a year ago to 39 percent in 1Q13. It was also reported that all regions saw a year-over-year decline in units shipped in this segment, the worst of which was Latin America which suffered a decrease in shipments of 40 percent.
In terms of vendor performance, HP remains the leader with a 40.6 percent share of unit shipments, although the OEM experienced a year-over-year contraction of 18.4 percent and lost three points per share from the previous year. It remained a strong performer in the technical segment, with more than three times the share of its next competitor; and maintained its number 2 position in the graphics application segment, which is headed by Epson.
Epson is also second place in the overall LFP market despite a decline in shipments of 13.7 percent. It also maintained its market share of 21 percent and grew shipments and its market share in the technical sector.
With a 16 percent market share and almost 12,000 units shipped globally, Canon remains in third place, growing 5.3 percent in the technical segment, where it is in second place. However, the company posted a decline in the graphics segment of 13.1 percent.
Holding fourth and fifth place are Oce, which holds a three percent market share; and Roland, which also has a three percent market share, growing 3.4 percent in the graphics segment.