IDC Tracker reveals significant decline in ANZ industrial printer market in Q1 2020

According to the IDC Worldwide Quarterly Industrial Printer Tracker, the industrial printer market in Australia & New Zealand declined significantly in the 2020 Q1 period, with a quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) decline of -18.39% and year-on-year (YoY) decline of -33.79%.

“Bush fires in the December/January period, trade conflict between the US and China, and the COVID-19 pandemic have all contributed to the contraction in the market,” says Muhammad Faris Latief, Market Analyst for Imaging, Printing and Document Solutions (IPDS) at IDC Asia/Pacific.

Printing and advertising businesses across Australia and New Zealand are seeing a drastic reduction in business due to significant declines in the hospitality, tourism, and entertainment industries. Shrinking demand for Static Out-Of-Home (OOH) advertising, in particular billboards, has led to a reduction in shipments of large format graphic printers (sizing 1.8 metres and above).

“Advertising businesses are increasing their use of digital ad-sense and digital signage, instead of installing new signage or billboards, as a result of declines in foot traffic,” says Muhammad.

Print service providers offering photo printing and sublimation printing are also showing sluggish activity as a result of COVID-19, resulting in a decline in graphic printer installation in 2020Q1. Overall graphic printers declined -13% QoQ and -15% YoY.

Similarly, the technical printer market or computer-aided design (CAD) large format printer market, is also showing a significant decline with more than -20% QoQ decline and -45% YoY decline. This has been driven by the halt of construction activity in March as a result of Government-imposed measures to combat the pandemic. April saw a resumption of construction, but this was limited to public and vital infrastructure projects.

 “In May and June, we have seen further lifting of restrictions, and expect construction activity to return to near-normal in July. Ultimately, we expect a rebound in shipments for the Industrial Printer market in 2020 Q2 with the recovery in business sentiment as a result of the gradual resumption of regular business activity,” he concludes.