Dubai – The overall Middle East, Turkey, and Africa (META) hardcopy peripherals (HCP) market posted robust year-on-year growth in both units and value in 2018, according to the latest insights from International Data Corporation (IDC). The global technology research and consulting firm's IDCs Quarterly Hardcopy Peripherals Tracker shows that 5.44 million units were shipped in the region in 2018 for a total value of $1.74 billion, up 8.0% and 6.4%, respectively, year on year.
African markets showed the highest growth rates, with Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa all experiencing double-digit year-on-year growth in both units and value. This strong growth was primarily driven by a recovery in natural resource prices (including oil, platinum, and gold) in 2018, particularly during the first half of the year.
"While digitalization initiatives across META continue to gather pace, demand for paper-based documents remains strong in the region," says Roberto Alunni, IDC's senior research manager for imaging, printing, and document solutions in META. "That's because the use of paper remains necessary in many workflows and business processes, including invoices, legal contracts, and other documents. Indeed, an IDC survey of 391 end-user organizations conducted across the region in 2018 showed that just under half of them still prefer to use paper documents/signatures or a mix of paper and digital documents, rather than relying solely on electronic means to communicate with and report to public authorities."
Laser shipments increased 8.9% year on year in 2018 to total 2.4 million units, with their value rising 4.8% over the same period to reach $1.40 billion. The fastest growth in the laser technology segment was seen in Algeria, Egypt, and Nigeria, while the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) also posted robust growth. A notable exception to this trend was Turkey, which suffered a year-on-year decline in units and value as a result of the August currency crisis.
New technologies introduced by inkjet vendors aimed at increasing printout speeds and reducing the cost per copy have led to renewed interest from both the home and business markets. Inkjet shipments across META increased 7.1% year on year in 2018 to reach 2.92 million units, whilst their value increased at almost twice the rate, up 12.1% to $298.28 million. "The increased adoption of ink-tank devices across the META region continues to drive the total value of the inkjet market," says Alunni. "While ink-tank devices require a higher upfront cost to purchase the hardware, the ink refills are much cheaper for the end user."
Serial dot matrix (SDM) shipments increased significantly in 2018, reaching 125,749 units worth $47.8 million, up 10.6% and 18.9%, respectively, year on year. The introduction of VAT in GCC countries at the beginning of 2018 led to a rise in demand for these devices, due to the requirement for businesses to print and store invoices.
For more information, please contact Sheila Manek at smanek@idc.com or on +971 4 446 3154.
IDC tracks A2, A3 and A4 devices in the Quarterly Hardcopy Peripherals Tracker.
Hardcopy peripherals include single-function printers, MFPs, for both office-based and production segments.
The META region comprises: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Rest of Africa, Rest of
Middle East, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.
About IDC
International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,100 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. IDC's analysis and insight helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. Founded in 1964, IDC is a subsidiary of IDG , the world's leading technology media, research, and events company. To learn more about IDC, please visit www.idc.com. Follow IDC on Twitter at @IDC.
IDC in the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa
For the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa region, IDC retains a coordinated network of offices in Riyadh, Nairobi, Lagos, Johannesburg, Cairo, and Istanbul, with a regional center in Dubai. Our coverage couples local insight with an international perspective to provide a comprehensive understanding of markets in these dynamic regions. Our market intelligence services are unparalleled in depth, consistency, scope, and accuracy. IDC Middle East, Africa, and Turkey currently fields over 130 analysts, consultants, and conference associates across the region. To learn more about IDC MEA, please visit www.idc.com/mea. You can follow IDC MEA on Twitter at @IDCMEA.
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