Western European HCP Market, 3Q15: Growth in Office Print Markets Stalls, While Consumer Markets Continue to Contract, Says IDC

According to research by International Data Corporation (IDC), the Western European printer and multifunction (MFP) market decreased 6.8% in unit terms compared with the same period a year ago, with negative performances in both inkjet and laser segments. This gave a 3Q15 market figure of 5.45 million units -- a decline of 397,256 units. Revenues increased by 2.7%, but lasers were largely responsible for the value increase as inkjet revenues fell by 14.8%.

The laser markets were relatively weak in 3Q15, following the negative trend seen in the previous quarter in Western Europe. Combined printer and MFP laser shipments decreased 9.2% in 3Q15.

Business inkjets had a strong 3Q15, however, with double-digit growth and shipments increasing 15.2% year on year. MFP products showed the highest growth rates. Shipments of business inkjet devices in Western Europe now account for 87% of the EMEA market and there is very strong competition for laser devices in the SMB markets.

MFP products accounted for 83.3% of all shipments in Western Europe in 3Q15. Shipments of both laser and inkjet MFPs decreased this quarter. The only area to show growth was color laser MFPs, which grew by 5.3%; A3 color MFP devices increased 10.3% and A4 devices decreased 4.6% in 3Q15.

The business market, comprising laser and business inkjet devices, slowed down with a 3.7% decrease. However, value increased by 7.1%, with 45ppm+ color devices showing double-digit growth in value.

"Despite a decrease in office shipments, the increase in the value of Office-related devices shows that businesses are continuing to invest in higher-specification devices, especially color, even if they are actually installing fewer devices than they previously did," said Delphine Carnet, senior research analyst in IDC's Western European Imaging, Hardware Devices, and Document Solutions group. "In fact, businesses want to take advantage of newer technologies that enhance their printing experience and are ready to compromise quantity for quality."

Main Highlights

The overall Western European hardcopy market declined 6.8% year on year in 3Q15, with the laser decline greater than that for inkjet.

Very few segments have seen growth, with multifunction color laser showing the only real laser growth increase in Western Europe.

Most color growth was from A3 MFP products, while both mono and color printer products showed double-digit declines in all format devices.

The production markets also showed solid growth and the majority of these shipments were also color.

Business inkjet performed well in the quarter, with 23% growth for MFP devices but a decline of 34.7% for printers.

Country Highlights

Germany

The German market followed the overall Western European negative trend with a 7.8% decrease after witnessing six positive quarters. The business inkjet market was also weaker than the Western European average, with growth at only 7.3% compared with the regional average of 15.2%.

The laser market in Germany showed negative growth for the second quarter, although color devices showed an encouraging 9.1% increase. The inkjet market too decreased, by 5.7%, with consumer inkjet showing an 8.9% decrease.

Both multifunction and printer devices saw strong declines, with a 21.7% decrease for printers.

France

France performed better than Germany but still showed an overall decline of 3.7% in 3Q15 over the same period last year. Both inkjet and laser demand decreased with the laser market declining by 5.9%.

The consumer markets for inkjet decreased 5.3% despite showing positive trends for the past two quarters, and there was a considerable 25.4% increase for business inkjet, contrasting strongly with the negative trend seen last quarter. MFPs decreased for both inkjet (2.2%) and laser (2%).

The U.K.

The U.K. recorded a very poor quarter with a 15.7% decline, following the negative trend seen in Germany and France, only higher. Business inkjet on the other hand performed well with an 11.3% increase, but smaller than the 15.2% Western European average. Both laser and inkjet markets declined, but we saw positive growth in A3 MFPs for both technologies.

Notes:

• Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Hardcopy Peripherals Tracker, November 2015.
• All growth rates quoted are year on year (3Q15 versus 3Q14).
• 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.

For more information about IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Hardcopy Peripherals Tracker in EMEA, please contact Phil Sargeant (psargeant@idc.com).

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