According to the latest data from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Large Format Printer Tracker, which tracks A2-A0+devices in the LFP market, the sector recorded year-over-year growth of 5.3% in the second quarter of 2014 with more than 77,000 units shipped. Shipment value, however, declined slightly to $786 million in the quarter with year-over-year growth of -0.5%. The growth in unit shipments was driven by solid results for the top three vendors: HP, Canon, and Epson.
HP remains the global large format printer market leader with more than 30,700 units shipped and 39.9% share. Its year-over-year increase of 7.4% was helped by positive gains in the technical (5.7%) and graphic (18.0%) segments. HP continues to lead the technical market, with almost twice the unit shipments of its next competitor, Canon. HP also maintained its second place position in the graphics market behind Epson.
Canon is the second ranked LFP vendor with more than 17,000 units shipped and 22.6% share. The vendor grew 5.8% year over year. This positive growth was driven by year-over-year gains in both the technical and graphics segments, 3.5% and 13.5%, respectively.
Epson strengthened its number 3 position with 12% year-over-year growth, the best performance among the top 5 vendors. The vendor recorded more than 15,200 units shipped and 19.8% share, up more than 1 point from a year ago. Its year-over-year growth of 12% was driven by significant growth of 16.5% in the graphics application segment.
Roland was the number 4 vendor in the worldwide LFP market with more than 2,700 units shipped in the second quarter. The vendor declined 2.9% year over year and held a 3.6% share of the overall market. Graphics application is Roland's main market, which means the vendor's year over year decline was driven by a decrease in the graphics segment.
"IDC expects the aqueous colour inkjet market to grow at a single digit rate over the next two years. The technical segment of thel arge format printer market is the real driver of growth opportunity. The gains in the technical segment can be attributed to improved speeds and image quality," said Phuong Hang, program director, Worldwide Large Format Printer Tracker.