Printer sales are surging in Europe

Research agency CONTEXT recently released the fourth quarter of 2022 data for European printers which showed printer sales in Europe surged more than forecast in the quarter.

The data showed that printer sales in Europe increased 12.3% year over year in the fourth quarter of 2022, while revenue increased 27.8%, driven by promotions for entry-level inventory and strong demand for high-end printers.

According to CONTEXT research, the European printer market in 2022 has a greater emphasis on high-end consumer printers and mid-to-high-end commercial devices compared to 2021, especially high-end multi-function laser printers.

Small and mid-size dealers are performing strongly at end of 2022, driven by sales of commercial models, and steady growth in the e-retailer channel since the 40th week, both reflecting a rebound in consumption.

On the other hand, the consumables market in the fourth quarter, sales fell 18.2 % year over year, revenue fell 11.4%. The main reason for the decline is that toner cartridges, which account for more than 80% of consumables sales, are declining. Refillable inks are gaining popularity, a trend that is expected to continue throughout 2023 and beyond as they offer consumers a more economical option.

CONTEXT says subscription models for consumables are also becoming more common, but because they are sold directly by brands, they are not included in the distribution data.