IDC: Q2 Western European HCP Market Shipment Better than Expected

IDC: Q2 Western European HCP Market Shipment Better than Expected

According to IDC, some major OEMs have switched their attentions back to simple monochrome A4 printers as they contain fewer microchips and other components than color or multifunction devices, meaning more devices can be manufactured to help satisfy demand. These OEMs have seen their sales increase to pre-pandemic levels for this segment, but shipments of other A4 and A3 segments remain subdued for many brands.

Availability of microchips is showing early signs of improvement but full inventories are not likely to be available until 2023. As a result, shipments for the remainder of 2022 are likely to be erratic across most segments, with significant amounts of newly manufactured products being diverted to fulfill back orders and tenders rather than for new business. Most OEMs are seeing demand outstrip supply, especially in those higher-speed A4 and A3 color segments where more microchips are required for manufacturing the products. This is having an impact on revenues, cash flow, and profits, and the same can be said for channel partners.

In terms of numbers, total market shipments for the quarter declined by 2.6% to 4.28 million units. The inkjet market, consisting largely of consumer devices, declined by 2.2% to 3.16 million units, while laser shipments contracted by 3.7% for a market size of 1.12 million units. Within the laser segment, color shipments declined by 13.8%, for a market size of 401,000 units. Monochrome increased by 3.0%, for a market size of 721,000 units.

“Quarter-on-quarter shipments continue to be erratic as lingering supply chain issues with microchips are having a negative impact on most OEMs, their channel partners, and their customers,” said Phil Sargeant, senior program director, Western European Imaging, Hardware Devices, and Document Solutions group, IDC. “Although there may be some improvement in the forthcoming quarters, some OEMs are reverting to simple monochrome printers as these contain the least number of microchips and other components, meaning more can be produced from a limited stock of parts and indicating the importance of the black-and-white page.”

Main highlights:

• The overall Western European hardcopy market declined 2.6% year on year in 2Q22; shipments were at 4.28 million units.
• The 2Q22 market value in Europe (euros) increased by 2.0% to €1.81 billion.
• Inkjet shipments declined by 2.2% in 2Q22. Though consumer devices increased by 2.9%, business inkjet shipments declined sharply by 23.3%.
• Overall laser shipments declined by 3.7% year on year in 2Q22; color shipments declined by 13.8%, while monochrome shipments increased 3.0%.
• Serial impact dot matrix continues to decline, with shipments falling 27.3%; high-speed inkjet devices declined by 2.4%.

Main Country Highlights

Country fortunes were mixed, with some showing strong year-on-year growth, some showing weak performances, and others remaining relatively flat. The main country highlights are as follows:

Germany

Shipments in Germany increased year on year by 1.1%, for a market size of 951,000 units. Total inkjet shipments increased by 4.0%, for a market size of 633,000 units; this growth was the result of strong consumer shipments, while business inkjets contracted. Laser devices declined by 4.2%, for a market size of 316,000 units; both A4 monochrome MFP and printer segments increased while all of the main color segments declined. High-speed inkjets increased by 37.5%.

France

French shipments declined by 2.9% as both inkjet and laser market contracted; the market size was 823,000 units. Inkjets were down by 2.3% even though ink tank shipments increased; laser markets were down by 5.8%. In the laser market there was an increase in the number of A4 monochrome and A4 color printers sold, but all of the other major segments, including A3 color MFP, declined.

The U.K.

U.K. shipments declined in line with the general growth patterns for Western Europe. Shipments contracted by 3.2%, for a total of 711,000 units. Most declines were in the inkjet market, which contracted by 6.8%. Though business inkjets declined, consumer inkjets increased. Laser shipments were strong and increased 15.4% year on year, with the A4 monochrome MFP and printer segments seeing the most growth. As with other major countries, however, A3 segments contracted. High-speed inkjet shipments increased by 75.0%.

Italy

Italian shipments contracted by 11.2% to give a market size of 503,000 units. Most declines were from the inkjet market, which saw both business and consumer segments decline, while ink tank systems increased. Laser shipments declined by 8.3%; unlike other countries there was no growth from A4 monochrome devices but there was growth from A3 color and A3 monochrome MFP devices as public sector tenders continued to be fulfilled.

Spain

Growth in the Spanish hardcopy market was positive at 8.9%, with particularly strong growth from the inkjet market at 13.0%. Growth in business inkjets was very strong, while consumer segments also increased. Ink tank systems declined, however. Laser shipments declined by 1.9%, but there was growth from the A3 color laser MFP segment; most of the other major segments declined in the quarter.

Related:

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• IDC: Industrial Printer Shipments Declines in Q1
• IDC: Industrial Printer Shipments Grow in Q4
• IDC: Global HCP Market Suffers Decline in Q4

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