Strong Printer/MFP Growth in Middle-East, Reports IDC

The Middle East hardcopy peripherals (HCP) market overcame a conspicuous downturn in Turkey to post strong year-on-year growth in second-quarter 2014, according to figures released today by International Data Corporation (IDC). The research and advisory firm’s latest Quarterly Hardcopy Peripherals Tracker shows the overall Middle East market expanded 9.4 percent in volume and almost 7 percent in value during the second quarter of the year.

Note that IDC tracks A2 and A4 devices in its Quarterly Hardcopy Peripherals Tracker, and hardcopy peripherals include single-function printers, MFPs, and single-function digital copiers for both office-based and production segments. IDC considers the Middle East as consisting of the UAE, KSA, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Pakistan, Turkey, and the rest of the Middle East.

IDC says the Turkish market’s decline was primarily brought about by firms postponing their purchases as they waited for the outcome of the presidential elections held in the country earlier this month. However, most of the region’s other key markets posted significant double-digit growth, resulting in the strong performance recorded for the overall region. Robust domestic infrastructure investments in the key markets of Saudi Arabia and the UAE had a particularly positive impact on demand for hardcopy devices.

“The color laser market continues to register the region’s most impressive volume and value growth rates, but we are also seeing strong shipment growth across most speed segments of the mono laser market,” says Ashwin Venkatchari, senior program manager for imaging, printing, and document solutions at IDC Middle East, Turkey, and Africa. “The focus of vendors on pushing entry-level mono laser devices into the region has had a significant impact on shipment growth in most of the major Middle East markets. And despite the volatile political climate seen in certain parts of the region, the ongoing reliance on hardcopy documents by businesses is continuing to drive considerable demand for HCP devices.”

Inkjet shipments across the Middle East declined 2 percent year-over-year in Q2 2014 to total 315,000 units. However, the inkjet market’s value increased 15 percent over the same period to cross the $34 million mark, courtesy of a strong performance in the $400+ category as new high-speed inkjet models designed for businesses gained traction in the region.

Mono laser shipments were up 11.8 percent over the same period to total more than 457,000 units, while the market’s value increased 11.2 percent to reach $196 million. This strong growth was present across almost all segments of the mono laser market, according to IDC.

Color-laser shipments surged an incredible 47.3 percent to reach more than 112,000 units. However, the market’s value decreased 1.9 percent to $99 million as increasing competition continued to drive prices down across all segments.

Serial dot-matrix shipments experienced relatively flat year-on-year shipment growth of 1.7 percent in Q2 2014, while the market’s value slumped 11.8 percent to $12.4 million during the same period. The downward pressure on prices remains strong as end users continue to transition to newer, more efficient technologies.

IDC’s Europe, Middle East and Africa Quarterly Hardcopy Peripherals Tracker tracks market trends and opportunities in the converging hardcopy peripherals markets of the EMEA region. Shipments and value of shipments are provided by end-user (home, small business, medium-sized business, large business, and government/education) and channel (direct sales, distributor/aggregator, dealer, retail, and VAR/SI) segments.

For more information about IDC’s Quarterly Hardcopy Peripherals Tracker, contact Ashwin Venkatchari at avenkatchari@idc.com.