IDC: Developing Economies Driving Growth of Printer-Consumables Market in Asia Pacific

by Kathleen Wirth · Published December 11, 2014 · Updated April 19, 2016

December 11, 2014 – International Data Corporation (IDC) reports that the printer-consumables market in the Asia/Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) region declined 1.2 percent sequentially, but increased 2.6 percent on-year (YoY) to reach U.S. $1,744.36 million in third-quarter 2014. According to IDC, Developing economies such as India, Indonesia, and Thailand continue to record growth in consumables shipment, but seasonal decline in the PRC (Peaple’s Republic of China), Malaysia, and South Korea has affected the overall consumable market in the region.

Out of the total consumables market, third-party brands contributed nearly U.S. $394 million, which was approximately 23 percent of the total value. Even developed economies such as Australia and New Zealand are witnessing adoption of third-party products for laser printers. Third-party vendors are partnering with large-format retailers and office-stationery suppliers in order to increase their foot hold in the market. As office-stationery suppliers are entering into Managed Print Services (MPS), third-party vendors are providing a broader range of products (all OEMs) at economic prices to provide competitive solutions for their target customers. E-commerce is also opening up new avenues for third-party vendors as they can reach out to more audience through multi-brand e-retailing portals.

“Digitization is an emerging trend in Asia/Pacific as corporations as well as government sectors in AP countries, are trying to reduce their printing needs. Educational institutes are evaluating the adoption of tablets; hospitals are digitizing patients’ records; and governments are going to digitize government records, including certificates issued to citizens such as educational, medical, residential, birth certificates, and etc. These policies will limit the creation of paper records and reduce printing. It may reduce the shipment of printer consumables in developed economies such as Australia and New Zealand,” commented Pankaj Chawla, research manager for IPDS Research at IDC Asia/Pacific.

As OEMs have come up with high-capacity ink cartridges which are economical, it will affect overall unit shipment and revenue of the ink-cartridge market in the longer term, but currently, it is helping OEMs to gain market share in the ink-cartridge market. OEMs are also revitalizing the laser-toner market and launching economical laser printers with low-priced laser toners. Though page capacity of these toners is lower as compared to standard toners, the economic prices of toners may help OEMs to target SMBs, SOHO, and home users particularly where color printing is not in demand.