According to research by International Data Corporation (IDC), the Western European printer and multifunction (MFP) market showed a slight decrease in unit terms of 0.8% when compared to the same period a year ago as consumer inkjet shipments contracted. This gave a Q414 market figure of 6.84 million units and represents actual a unit decline of 52, 000 units. On a more positive note, revenues increased as more high speed laser MFP laser and business inkjets shipped.
However, the overall hardcopy market in Western Europe did recover in 2014 and combined printer and MFP 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.
As with Q414, 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. While the A3 laser market showed a slight increase the overall A4 market showed a decline of almost 1% indicating the continued threat from business inkjets.
While the overall market showed a small decline in Q414, the trend by country is more pronounced with a double digit decrease in the Nordic countries. More positive trends are observed in Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands.
Business inkjet remains successful, with a 46.1% year on year increase and multifunction products showing the highest growth rates. 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.
Main Highlights
The overall Western European hardcopy market declined year on year by 0.8% in Q414,
While the laser market showed a small decline, color devices saw a significant 10.0% growth compared to Q413.
Most of the color growth was again from A4 MFP products, while color printer products declined and a similar pattern occurred with monochrome devices.
Business inkjet performed very well this quarter, with 51.0% growth for the MFP devices, while printers saw a more modest 15.9% growth
High speed color laser equipment showed excellent growth, largely due to the increase in market revenues.
Country Highlights
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.
Notes:
Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Hardcopy Peripherals Tracker February 2015.
All growth rates quoted are year on year (Q414 v Q413)
IDC tracks A2–A4 devices in the Quarterly Hardcopy Peripherals Tracker.
Hardcopy peripherals include single-function printers, printer-based multifunctional systems (MFPs), and single-function digital copiers (SFDCs). Data is reported for calendar periods.
www.idc.com
