China Printer Market Faces Continual Challenges in 2025

China Printer Market Faces Continual Challenges in 2025

According to IDC’s latest report on the global hardcopy peripherals market, China’s printer market experienced a 12.5% year-on-year decline in 2024, with total shipments reaching 15.31 million units.

Inkjet printer shipments stood at 7.29 million units, down by 8.7%, while laser printer shipments experienced a drop of 13.8% to 7.14 million units. Dot matrix printers faced the steepest decline at 28.9%. This marked the second consecutive year of downturn attributed to economic uncertainty, tighter user budgets, and a shift toward more frugal consumption patterns.

Despite the overall decline, demand for ink tank printers bucked the trend, especially in the latter half of the year where consistent growth in inkjet shipments was recorded. The better-than-expected performance of back-to-school sales, reinforced by more active e-commerce campaigns during the Double 11 festival and government subsidies, bolstered the adoption of printers among family users. On the contrary, offline sales channels were facing considerable pressure amid such trends.

Meanwhile, ink tank printers are gaining increasing appeal as a result of their low operating costs and growing reputation among customers. The rise in remote work further supported this trend. Small and medium-sized businesses also showed a stronger inclination to switch from laser to inkjet printers, propelled by shrinking print volumes. In response, manufacturers introduced a broader range of ink tank models to address diverse customer requirements. A3 business inkjet printers, known for their cost-efficient color printing, gained attention in the leasing market but fell short of expectations due to competition from overseas products.

In the laser printer segment, A4 laser printer and copier shipments declined 12.8% year-on-year. Government subsidies introduced in the fourth quarter bolstered consumer demand, yet the commercial market felt a sharper impact from economic headwinds, with small and medium-sized businesses favoring inkjet alternatives to cut costs. To maintain market share, manufacturers rolled out an array of entry- to mid-level A4 laser models.

The decline proved more manifest among A3 laser printers, with shipments falling 23.5% year-on-year. Budget control, of both individuals and enterprises, tightened the demands for color printing and extended the life cycle of older models. Consequently, although the long-term trajectory to color printers remains intact, monochrome substitutes are still the current mainstream.

IDC China Senior Analyst Cheng Yana noted that 2025 is expected to bring continued external challenges, prompting manufacturers to brace for supply chain risks. With intensified internal competition, companies must closely monitor national policies, refine product strategies, optimize channel structures, and stay attuned to potential opportunities emerging from technological advancements.

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• Barcode Label Printer Market Expected to Grow Drastically
• Laser & Inkjet Printing’s Roles in Evolving Office Environments
• ESG Compliance Remains a Key Challenge in Asia/Pacific

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