Third Consecutive Quarter of Growth for Worldwide Printer and Copier/MFP Market

by Kathleen Wirth · June 16, 2025

The global printer and copier/MFP (hardcopy peripheral market, or HCP) market grew 2.7 percent year-over-year (YoY) for the third consecutive quarter in first-quarter 2025, with approximately 19.4 million units shipped.

Shipment value, on the other hand, saw a YoY decrease of 3.2 percent to roughly $9.0 billion, all according to the IDC Worldwide Quarterly Hardcopy Peripherals Tracker.

(Note that IDC tracks A3 to A4 devices for its Quarterly Hardcopy Peripherals. Hardcopy Peripherals include single-function printers, multifunctional systems known as MFPs, and single-function digital copiers.)

Growth by Region

Western Europe, one of the top-three regions,was up 10.1 percent YoY, while the U.S. and China experienced YoY declines of 3.9 and 8.9 percent, respectively.

IDC says positive gains in Western Europe were driven by the rise of color inkjet MFPs with refillable ink-tank systems. It said that as concern for environmental sustainability rises as a key priority for consumers and businesses alike, ink-tank printers are gaining prominence by minimizing waste through refillable ink systems.

Notable highlights from first-quarter 2025 include:

Ink-tank devices recorded their fourth consecutive quarter of global YoY growth, highlighting sustained market momentum. This trend was consistent across all regions except the United States and Japan, where adoption remains limited due to factors such as a stronger preference for laser and cartridge-based systems, slower channel transition, and entrenched consumer habits that favor traditional printing technologies.
All top-five vendors showed YoY increases, ranging from 1.3 percent (HP Inc.) to 14.0 percent (Pantum). Much of the growth was driven by the rising popularity of ink-tank devices, which offer cost efficiency and sustainability advantages. IDC noted that vendors are actively promoting these systems by highlighting their reduced need for frequent ink refills. Although consumers face a higher initial purchase price, they benefit from significantly lower long-term ink costs.