IDC Points To Recovering Printer Market

New research has found that the worldwide hard copy peripherals market has returned to pre-downturn shipment levels, with nearly 31 million units shipped in the third quarter of 2010.

This is according to the IDC Worldwide Quarterly Hardcopy Peripherals Tracker.

This is the second consecutive quarter of double-digit year-over-year growth in both units shipped and shipment value. Total market shipments in the third quarter improved 13 percent over the third quarter of 2009, while shipment value increased 17 percent year over year to $14.3 billion (£9.1 billion).

MFP Printer Segment

Similar to the second quarter of 2010, the third quarter saw higher year-over-year growth for monochrome laser multifunction printers (MFPs) than colour laser MFPs – 38 percent versus 21 percent, respectively. It was also the second consecutive quarter where monochrome laser printers (35 percent year-over-year growth) outperformed colour laser MFPs by more than 5 percent. The report noted HP has recovered from the laser shortage issue and ramped up shipments to more than 3.5 million laser units, resulting in double-digit year-over-year growth across all regions.

“The worldwide hard copy peripherals market looks positive toward the end of 2010. Early indications show that the market is rebounding after the decline seen in 2009 and 2008 as some degree of consumer confidence returns and businesses are now looking to invest in their printing and imaging,” said Phuong Hang, program manager for IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Hardcopy Peripherals Tracker.

Inkjet Domination

Inkjet devices continue to lead in the overall hard copy peripherals market with close to 20 million units shipped, exhibiting a 6 percent year-over-year growth. The laser market grew 32 percent year-over-year to more than 9.5 million units in the third quarter.

HP and Samsung remain the top two vendors in this space, with a combined share of more than 50 percent. Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan) maintains its spot as the number one region for laser shipments with more than 3 million units.

HP strengthened its leading position in the overall hard copy peripherals market with 13.4 million units shipped, resulting in 44 percent share in the third quarter. The company saw 21 percent year-over-year growth globally and double-digit growth across all regions, except for North America. The vendor gained two points to 50 points share in the inkjet market and increased five points to 36 percent share in the laser segment from a year ago.

Canon comes in at a distant second to HP in the overall market with close to 5.4 million units shipped and 17 percent market share. The vendor posted 6 percent year-over-year growth due to strong performance in the laser segment (33 percent year-over-year growth) and a weaker performance in the inkjet segment (1 percent year-over-year growth). Epson maintains its third position in the worldwide hard copy peripherals market with 14 percent share.

Laser Performance

Monochrome laser printers increased 35 percent year-over-year to more than 8 million units in the third quarter, resulting in 84 percent share of the total laser space. This quarter witnessed significant year-over-year growth for both printers and MFPs, 35 percent and 38 percent, respectively. While posting 18 percent year-over-year growth, color laser printers finished the quarter with 16 percent market share in the total laser space, losing less than one point from the second quarter. Inching closer to printer share, MFP devices represent 46 percent of the colour laser sector.

With more than 6.8 million units, the United States represents the second largest region in the overall hard copy peripherals market, based on shipments. Unlike the double-digit growth experienced in the second quarter, the third quarter saw a modest year-over-year gain of 3 percent. The positive figure for the region was driven by the stronger year-over-year growth in laser technology, 15 percent versus 1 percent for inkjet.