Market Overview

This market research targets to the following four product categories of business-use/industrial printers: Serial impact dot matrix printer (SIDM), line impact dot printer, production printer, and large format printer (LFP). SIDM printers and line impact dot printers are used for printing specialty papers, such as invoice, vouchers, non-carbon copy papers, and contracts (bond papers). Production printer is used for label printing, digital printing, and on-demand printing. Large format printers (LFP) can print on paper that is equal to or larger than A2 size. The global shipment business-use/industrial printers for FY2022 was 1,283,079 units by volume, which is 99.6% of preceding fiscal year, and 887,721 million yen by value, 116.1% of the previous fiscal year (based on the shipment volume/value at manufacturers).

Shipment of the business-use/industrial printers fell temporarily in all categories due to the stagnation of economic activities due to the outbreak of novel coronavirus. The shipment value recovered as companies reinstated capital investment along with the easing of pandemic measures.

In view of the market by each product category, SIDM market and line impact dot printer market, which represent more than 60 percent of the entire market by shipment volume, is declining compared to the preceding fiscal year on shipment volume basis, because of their limited usage and decline in demand.

Meanwhile, with growing demand for digital printing, on-demand printing and large format printing, the sales of production printers and LFP (inkjet printers), which are expensive and occupying large portions of the market by shipment value, is expanding significantly compared to the previous fiscal year on shipment value basis.

While production printers and LFP (inkjet) show recovery, SIDM and line impact dot printers are weakening. Polarization of the global business-use/industrial printer market was observed by product category.

Noteworthy Topics

UV Printer

UV printer is a printer that uses “UV ink” that cures with ultraviolet light. Because UV printer applies ultraviolet light over the top of the ink it prints, it has an advantage of immediate curing without extra time for drying. Moreover, as UV ink excels in weatherproof characteristic, it can print on non-paper medium such as metal and glass, as well as on non-flat surface like cylinders.

As user companies see favorably of its versatility, quick-drying capability, and a wide variety of products, every one of leading domestic manufacturers are steadily growing the shipment volume in global market. Global shipment volume of UV printers* for FY2022 grew to 115.4% of the previous fiscal year to 12,359 units, and the shipment value* to 109.6% to 99,000 million yen. The growth is expected to continue to FY2023 onward, although the growth rate may decelerate because of the rise of other eco-friendly, low-VOC products such as latex printers.

* Shipment volume and shipment value of UV printers are part of the business-use/industrial printer market.

Future Outlook

Global shipment volume of business-use/industrial printers for FY2023 is forecasted to attain 97.2% of the preceding fiscal year to 1,246,662 units, and the global shipment value is projected to reach 107.8% to 956,783 million yen.

As in the same way as in FY2022, the shipment volume is expected to decrease due to the shrinkage of SIDM market. On the other hand, underpinned by the strong sales of low-end models and expansion of printing usage, the shipment value of production printers and the LFP (inkjet) printers are forecasted to grow further. Meanwhile, despite the gradual easing of the supply shortage against the backdrop of semiconductor shortages and disruptions in supply chain, the global market of business-use/industrial printers will continue to be affected considerably by the slowdown in economy stemming from the Ukraine War and expansion of export/increase in revenue led by the weak yen.

Research Outline