Hardcopy market increases 5.5 percent year-on-year during final quarter of 2013, although year-on-year value falls.
IDC reported that Western European printer and MFP shipments grew 5.5 percent to 6.94 million units in 4Q13 – an increase of around 360,000 units compared to the same period in 2012. However, continued price pressure led to a 7.4 percent year-on-year fall in value to $2.92 billion (€2.14 billion).
While both laser and inkjet market grew in some segments, laser markets remained flat as markets were “very strong” in 3Q13 and some stock remained in the channel. Meanwhile inkjet grew 2.6 percent year-on-year, as consumer inkjet markets increased 8.6 percent and business inkjets increased 2.9 percent.
Both colour and monochrome markets were flat, with growth coming from MFP products and printer shipments declining. However, printer products still outsold MFP products but a ratio of more than 2:1, with IDC stating that this area remains “a large opportunity market”.
Growth during 2013 as a whole was flat after the year began with a weak first quarter but markets improved towards the end of the year. However, the result can be seen as positive when considering that many countries in the region are still undergoing economic and political issues.
Commenting on the results, Phil Sargeant, Program Director of the Western European Hardware Devices and Document Solutions group at IDC, said: “These positive results for the quarter show that many companies are continuing to invest in their printing and imaging requirements as confidence in the overall economy improves. There are pockets of opportunities for many manufacturers and channel partners, and 2014 is most likely to see the overall market increase. Growth is likely to be steady rather than spectacular.”
Looking at results by country, the German market increased year-on-year by 2.7 percent in 4Q13, with inkjet markets growing seven percent but laser markets contracting four percent. Shipments of both colour and monochrome laser MFPs increased, but printer shipments declined, although A4 colour MFP products fell slightly while A4 monochrome MFP products saw a double-digit growth. Overall the market increased 0.5 percent during 2013.
In France, shipments increased 8.6 percent year-on-year, with both inkjet and laser markets increasing by over nine percent. Consumer inkjet markets grew 8.8 percent while business inkjets saw the most growth at 13.8 percent. All laser printer and MFP products increased, with colour MFP products increasing by 21 percent year-on-year. The only laser products segment not to show growth was the A3 monochrome printers segment. As with Germany, the overall French market grew 0.5 percent in 2013.
Finally, the UK market increased 13.4 percent in 4Q13 compared to 4Q12, with inkjet shipments increasing 14.7 percent, although in contrast to other countries, business inkjets showed decline while consumer inkjets were “much stronger” after being weak in previous quarters. Very strong growth was seen in the colour MFP markets, with both A4 and A3 achieving double-digit year-on-year growth. Remaining the third largest market in Western Europe, the UK market remained flat in 2013.