LONDON / PRAGUE, May 19, 2015 — According to research by International Data Corporation (IDC), the Western European printer and multifunction (MFP) market increased 2.6% in unit terms compared with the same period a year ago, with positive growth for both inkjet and laser segments in line with IDC’s forecast. This gave a 1Q15 market figure of 5.49 million units — an increase of 138,621 units. Revenues also increased, by an impressive 8.4%, as more high-speed laser MFPs and business inkjets shipped. (TZ)
This positive first quarter follows an overall recovery in the hardcopy market in Western Europe in 2014. Combined printer and MFP shipments increased 2.9% for the year, with the switch from single-function to multifunction continuing in most major segments.
Not surprisingly, business inkjet had a strong 1Q15, with a 21.6% year-on-year increase and MFP products showing the highest growth rates. Germany alone represents 30% of the business inkjet market, followed by the U.K. and France.
MFP products accounted for 78.1% of all shipments. Both the MFP and printer markets increased, at 2.7% and 2.4% respectively. While the laser market showed an overall 4.1% year-on-year increase, laser MFPs showed the most growth, at 6.3%, with 6.4% for color devices and 6.1% for mono. Both A3 and A4 devices showed increases in 1Q15, with the most growth in A3 inkjet, with a year-on-year 6.9%. This growth is mainly due to an impressive 83.6% increase in business inkjet devices within the A3 inkjet segment.
While the overall market increased in 1Q15, trends by country are more pronounced, with double-digit increases in Finland, Spain, and even Greece. Ireland, Italy, and the U.K. were negative, however.
„This positive first quarter of 2015 follows the overall recovery in the hardcopy market in Western Europe in 2014,“ said Delphine Carnet, senior research analyst in IDC’s Western European Imaging, Hardware Devices, and Document Solutions group. „In fact, 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.“
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