World Ink: 2007 sales will reach $12.5 billion

According to the latest ITStrategies survey results, the retail revenue of global narrow-format inkjet printers (less than 24 inches wide) in 2002 was as high as $29 billion, including equipment, substrates, and printing inks. It is predicted that by 2007, the retail revenue of the global narrow-format inkjet printing market will reach 43 billion US dollars. At present, ink is the highest part of its revenue, accounting for 50% of the overall market in 2002 (14 billion US dollars), and will still maintain a high market share, will reach 56% of market share in 2007 (about 24 billion USD). The printing materials will increase from 12% of the market share in 2002 (3.6 billion US dollars) to 15% in 2007 (6.3 billion US dollars). Affected by falling prices, equipment revenue will decrease from 38% (10.7 billion US dollars) in 2002 market share to 29% (about 12.5 billion US dollars) in 2007.

It is predicted that the installation of global narrow-format inkjet printers (including single-function and multi-functional) will show a positive development trend, which will increase from 144 million units in 2002 to 192 million units in 2007. Although 80% of the total number of globally-predicted installations are single-function, narrow-format inkjet printers, the growth in this segment of hardware is mainly from multifunction devices. According to MarcoBoer, an ITStrategies consulting partner, the profit comes mainly from multifunction devices, and the overall forecast revenue for this segment (including equipment, substrates, and inks) will be 35% higher than single-function inkjet printers.