Western European HCP Market Declined in 4Q18

The Western European printer and multifunction (MFP) market decreased by 6.9% in unit terms in 4Q18 compared with the same period a year ago, according to IDC. This is in line with the previous quarter and contributed to the 2018 overall Western Europe market contracting by 5.3%. This equated to a decline of over 1 million units to create a market of below 20 million units. The negative trend can be clearly seen, and it will continue over IDC's forecast period.

In 4Q18 the inkjet markets suffered the most despite the Christmas period as shipments declined by 8.8%, and most of this decline was in consumer inkjets as the home print market continues to change. Business inkjets did dip in 4Q18, but not all OEMs suffered as some had positive growth. The value for the business inkjet market was positive as more A3 devices shipped. The overall 2018 shipment figure for inkjet devices was also negative.

Laser shipments were flat in 4Q18, but value suffered as there was a skew towards lower speed monochrome devices which naturally carry lower average sales prices (ASPs). Monochrome markets increased by 1.7% due to high A4 shipments, but lower than expected A4 color printer sales meant that the overall color market declined 4.8%. Values for both laser markets also fell. A relatively poor end to the year meant that 2018 laser markets did decline, but there was growth in some areas.

The overall Western European hardcopy market contracted 6.9% year on year in 4Q18, recording a shipment figure of 4.8 million units. The overall 2018 market declined 5.3%. The main area of growth was the A3 inkjet market, which comprises desktop and standalone devices. They have both increased in 4Q18 and in 2018 as a whole. Another area of growth was seen in A4 monochrome laser printers and MFPs in 4Q18, but annual market growth was negative. • Color laser markets also suffered due largely to the decline of printers.

Growth patterns across Western European countries varied greatly in 4Q18 as some of the larger countries declined, but smaller ones increased. The largest market in Western Europe, Germany, declined 4.1% in 4Q18. It amounted to 1.37 million units, and generally shipments were in line with European averages. The German market for the whole of 2018 was also negative, declining 7.4%.

Shipments in France showed a decline of 9.5% in 4Q18, with a shipment figure of 1.02 million, and this decline therefore contributed to the overall 2018 market falling 7.1%. Overall shipments in the U.K. declined 7.0% in 4Q18, which is again in line with Western European averages. The U.K. did perform relatively well during the start of 2018, and this meant the market contracted by 3.7% in 2018.