Distributor sales of printer hardware are down across Western Europe, but the UK is doing ok, according to a new report.
Beancounters at Context have added up some numbers and worked out that unit sales of inkjet multifunction printers (MFPs) across Western Europe declined by nine percent year-on-year in Q3 2017. This is not limited to MFPs though, with the research saying that overall sales of printer hardware is down.
Context Imaging Analyst Zivile Brazdziunaite said that sales fell in all categories except for laser MFPs: distributor sales of these devices increased by two percent year-on-year in Q3 2017, driven by the colour laser MFPs subcategory..
“In contrast, unit sales of laser single-function printers (SFPs) continued to contract, and were down by 15 per cent year-on-year, as a result of the ongoing switch from single-function to multifunction devices.”
Sales of A4 colour laser MFPs increased by six percent year-on-year in Q3 2017. Almost half of all A4 laser printers sold in Western Europe are now MFPs, and the average selling price (ASP) of both mono and colour devices continues to fall. The ASP of A4 mono laser MFPs decreased by two percent and currently stands at €176, while the ASP of A4 colour laser MFPs is €296 (down by three percent).
Following a decline in previous quarters, sales of A3 colour laser MFPs slightly increased across Western European distribution for the quarter, while ASP in the segment continues to fall – down to €2,188 in Q3 2017, a drop of 20 percent year-on-year. HP expanded its A3 product portfolio earlier this year and registered a strong performance in the region.
The United Kingdom is one of the few stable countries in the region with no movement at all. The worst country is the Netherlands with a decline of 28 percent, while the most prosperous for printers is Lithuania at 25 percent.
Sales changes by Country:
Germany-3%
The United Kingdom 0 %
Italy-8%
Spain-10%
France-23%
Netherlands-28%
Switzerland-1%
Austria-13%
Portugal-9%
Sweden-8%
Belgium-22%
Finland2%
Denmark-8%
Lithuania25%
Ireland23%
Norway1%
Latvia-5%
Estonia-12%
Baltics12%
Poland -14.7%
