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Inkjet-Printer Sales Fuel Printer and Copier/MFP Growth in Central Europe and Russia

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HP Officejet Pro 7000

The hardcopy peripherals (HCP) market in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) grew 1.4 percent year-over-year in fourth-quarter 2017, with shipments exceeding 1.7 million units, according to the Worldwide Quarterly Hardcopy Peripherals Tracker published by International Data Corporation (IDC). Shipment value in the same period increased 3.9 percent year-over-year to upwards of $493 million.

Note that in its research, IDC tracks A2-A4 devices in its Quarterly Hardcopy Peripherals Tracker. Hardcopy Peripherals include single-function printers, multifunctional systems (MFPs), and single-function digital copiers (SF DC).

Inkjet shipments posted year-over-year growth of 12.6 percent in units and 14.3 percent in value. The inkjet market was characterized by a significant shift towards refillable ink-tank models. Ink tank models recorded 26.5 percent growth in unit terms. Ink-tank printers represented more than 30 percent of the overall inkjet market in unit terms and over 48 percent in value in fourth-quarter 2017.

“Low cost per page and high ink yields make ink tank models attractive not only for consumers, but, increasingly, for business users, as well,” commented Ilona Stankeova, research director with IDC CEMA’s Imaging, Hardware Devices, and Document Solutions group.

The laser market saw a decline of 5.7 percent in units compared to fourth-quarter 2016, but increased by 2.2 percent in value. While monochrome laser sales, especially those of cheaper entry-level models declined, color-laser sales increased. Shipments of color laser MFPs increased 13.4 percent in units, supported by healthy growth of mid=range and higher-end models, which are often delivered as part of a print-service contract.

In terms of vendor ranking, HP Inc. remained the overall leader in the CEE hardcopy peripherals market in fourth-quarter 2017, with unit market share of almost 37 percent despite a shipment decline of 13.4 percent year-over-year. IDC states that it’s worth noting that fourth-quarter 2017 was the first quarter that HP Inc. results included both HP Inc.- and Samsung-branded machines (HP Inc. included its acquisition of Samsung Printing Solutions in November 2017). While shipments of HP Inc.-branded machines recorded a moderate 7.8 percent decline, Samsung-branded shipments contracted by more than 40 percent.

Canon ranked second, with a minor decline in shipments and 19.9 percent market unit share. Epson’s shipments increased by almost 17 percent, raising its market share to 12.0 percent. Although Brother International ranked fourth, it outperformed the market with shipment unit growth of 18.4 percent.

Country Highlights

Russia

The Russian HCP market recorded a 6.0 percent increase in units and a 9.1 percent increase in value year-over-year in fourth-quarter 2017. Although still below pre-crisis levels, the Russian market, started to show signs of recovery in 2017. The gradual improvement of the economy, as well as GDP growth resulting from stabilization of the ruble and an increase in crude-oil prices helped boost the Russian market.

Both inkjet and laser market segments recorded positive unit growth, of 3.5 percent and 7.6 percent, respectively. Ink-tank models represented close to 39 percent of the inkjet market in units and more than 57 percent of the overall value.

Poland

After several quarters of decline, the Polish market posted growth of 10.5 percent in units and 2.6 percent in value in fourth-quarter 2017. Inkjet shipments recorded “remarkable unit growth of 28.0 percent,” supported by both consumer and business demand, while laser-unit shipments declined over 9 percent. Ink-tank models represented 15.4 percent of the inkjet-market in unit terms and more than 28 percent in value.

The positive result in fourth-quarter 2017 did not balance the previous quarters of decline, however. The total Polish HCP market recorded an annual decline in units of 3.2 percent and of 7.4 percent in value in 2017 when compared to 2016 annual results.

Czech Republic

Contrary to Poland, the Czech HCP market declined in fourth-quarter 2017, after several quarters of moderate growth. The dynamics for ink and laser segments were similar to that seen in Poland: while the Czech inkjet market recorded a 3.6 percent increase in units, the laser market declined almost 13 percent. Shipments of ink-tank models experienced double-digit growth, and ink tank sales represented 17.0 percent of the total inkjet market in units and close to 30 percent in value.

IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Hardcopy Peripherals Tracker provides market data on the global hardcopy peripherals market. Historical data are provided by vendor, distribution channel, end-user segment, speed range, price band, configuration, model family, and format size. Forecast details include units, value, ASV, price band, and speed range by product by country by region.

For more information about IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Hardcopy Peripherals Tracker, contact IDC’s Ilona Stankeova at istankeova@idc.com.

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