Global hardcopy peripherals market rebounds

The worldwide hardcopy peripherals market returned to pre-crisis shipment levels with nearly 31 million units shipped in the third quarter of 2010 (3Q10).

According to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Hardcopy Peripherals Tracker, this is the second consecutive quarter of double-digit year-over-year growth in both units shipped and shipment value.

Total market shipments in 3Q10 improved 13% over 3Q09 while shipment value increased 17% year over year to $14.3 billion.

“The worldwide hardcopy peripherals market looks positive toward the end of 2010. Early indications show that the market is rebounding after the decline seen in 2009 and 2008 as some degree of consumer confidence returns and businesses are now looking to invest in their printing and imaging,” said Phuong Hang, Programme Manager for IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Hardcopy Peripherals Tracker.

Similar to 2Q10, the third quarter of 2010 saw higher year-over-year growth for monochrome laser multifunction printers (MFPs) than colour laser MFPs, 38% versus 21% respectively. It was also the second consecutive quarter where monochrome laser printers (35% year-over-year growth) outperformed color laser MFPs by more than 5%. HP has recovered from the laser shortage issue and ramped up shipments to more than 3.5 million laser units, resulting in double-digit year-over-year growth across all regions.

Technology highlights

Inkjet devices continue to lead in the overall hardcopy peripherals market with close to 20 million units shipped, exhibiting a 6 % year-over-year growth.

The laser market grew 32% year-over-year to more than 9.5 million units in the third quarter. HP and Samsung remain the top 2 vendors in this space, with a combined share of more than 50%. Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan) maintains its spot as the number one region for laser shipments with more than 3 million units.

Monochrome laser increased 35% year-over-year to more than 8 million units in 3Q10, resulting in 84% share of the total laser space. This quarter witnessed significant year-over-year growth for both printers and MFPs, 35% and 38%, respectively.

While posting 18% year-over-year growth, color laser finished the quarter with 16% market share in the total laser space, losing less than 1 point from 2Q10. Inching closer to printer share, MFP devices represent 46% of the color laser sector.

Regional highlights

United States – With more than 6.8 million units, the U.S. represents the second largest region in the overall hardcopy peripherals market, based on shipments. Unlike the double-digit growth experienced in 2Q10, the third quarter saw a modest year-over-year gain of 3%. The positive figure for the region was driven by the stronger year-over-year growth in laser technology, 15% versus 1% for inkjet.

Western Europe – The region increased 7% year-over-year growth to more than 6.3 million units, resulting in an overall market share greater than 20%. Western Europe maintains its number 3 spot in the total hardcopy peripherals market, based on shipments. While growth is not uniform across all countries, 3Q10 marks the second consecutive quarter where most major markets in the region recorded positive year-over-year gains and showing early signs of further growth.

Central Eastern Europe & Middle East and Africa (CEMA) – The region accounts for 13% share with close to 4 million units, and exhibiting 23% year-over-year growth. This quarter witnessed monochrome laser as the largest and fastest growing segment, with 47% share and 42% year-over-year growth. It was also the first quarter where monochrome laser shipments in CEMA exceeded those of inkjet.

Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan) (APeJ) – While posting 23% year-over-year growth in unit shipments, APeJ share of the overall market declined to 26%, losing 1 point from the previous quarter. The region maintains the top spot in the overall market with over 8 million units shipped in 3Q10. China accounted for the majority of shipments in the region with more than a 42% share, and while shipments grew 31% year-over-year.

Japan – With close to 1.5 million units shipped, 3Q10 is consistently the lowest quarter for hardcopy peripherals shipments as most vendors decrease shipments to reduce stocks on the market in preparation for new product launches for the year-end sales in the fourth quarter. The region recorded 6% year-over-year growth, the best trend yet for 2010.

Vendor highlights

HP – HP strengthened its number one position in the overall hardcopy peripherals market with 13.4 million units shipped, resulting in 44% share in 3Q10. With its laser shortage issue resolved, HP saw 21% year-over-year growth globally and double-digit growth across all regions, except for North America. The vendor gained 2 points to 50% share in the inkjet market and increased 5 points to 36% share in the laser segment from a year ago.

Canon – Canon comes in as distant second to HP in the overall market with close to 5.4 million units shipped and 17% market share. The vendor posted 6% year-over-year growth due to strong performance in the laser segment (33% year-over-year growth) and a weaker performance in the inkjet segment (1% year-over-year growth). While posting a double-digit year-over-year gain, the vendor’s share in the total laser market, compared to a year ago, remained unchanged at 11%. MEA continues to be Canon’s highest growth region for laser technology with 56% year-over-year growth. The vendor also enjoyed outstanding year-over-year laser results in Western Europe and APeJ, 46% and 45%, respectively.

Epson – Epson maintains its third position in the worldwide hardcopy peripherals market with 14% share. The vendor enjoyed 11% year-over-year growth with shipments approaching 4.4 million units in 3Q10. While rounding out the top 3 in the overall inkjet segment with 18% share, Epson only accounted for 1% share in the laser segment. Unlike HP and Canon, the vendor’s best performing region was Latin America with an impressive 57% year-over-year increase, followed by 51% growth in Canada.

Samsung – Samsung held onto its position as the number four vendor worldwide. While its market share has remained unchanged at 5%, compared to a year ago, the vendor posted 21% year-over-year shipment growth in 3Q10. The vendor experienced the highest year-over-year growth in the Americas with 60%, followed by 30% in APeJ and 6% in EMEA. Laser devices accounted for more than 95% of Samsung’s total shipments in the quarter. Despite posting more than 23% year-over-year growth in the total laser segment in 3Q10, Samsung lost the top spot to HP in the laser MFP category, which it has held since 2Q09.

Brother – With 5% market share and close to 1.6 million units shipped, Brother comes in as the number five vendor. Brother recorded 5% year-over-year growth, driven by strong year-over-year performance in the emerging markets, including 74% growth in Latin America, and 73% in Middle East and Africa. Showing a year-over-year decline of 6%, Western Europe was Brother’s worst performance region. The vendor’s share in the inkjet segment remained unchanged at 4% while losing 1 point to 8% in the laser segment from a year ago.