Epson’s High-capacity Ink Tank Drives Printer Revenue Growth

Epson reported its financial results for the first 6 months of its 2014 fiscal year (from April 1 to September 30, 2014). Revenue totaled ¥512.8 billion ($4.45 billion USD), up 8.8% compared with the same quarter of 2013. Business profit was ¥50.9 billion ($448 million USD), increasing 51.7% year-over-year (YOY). Profit for the period was ¥65.7 billion ($578 million USD), up 230.1% YOY.

The information-related equipment segment marked ¥422.9 billion ($3.72 billion USD) in revenue, up 10.3% YOY. Profit for this segment was ¥67.7 billion ($596 million USD), up 59% YOY. Epson’s information-related equipment include inkjet printers, page printers, commercial inkjet printers, serial impact dot matrix printers, printers for use in POS systems, inkjet label printers and related consumables. Epson explained the profit increase in the segment was driven by “a combination of revenue growth from major products and foreign exchange effects.”

Regarding the revenue growth of the inkjet printer business, Epson said, “Although unit shipments of ink cartridge printers declined, printer revenue grew due to increased shipments of high-capacity ink tank models and higher average selling prices. Revenue from consumables also rose owing to the effects of improvement in the composition of the installed base. Revenue in the inkjet printer business as a whole was also boosted by foreign exchange effects.”

Regarding prospects for the near future, Epson observed, “Strategies under our SE15 mid-range business plan are progressing smoothly and we will stay the course in 2H2014 and beyond.” As was reported, solid growth of high-capacity ink tank models is taking place in emerging markets and Epson has begun to sell those products in Western Europe in 2H2014.