Projector sales continue to expand slowly worldwide

Excluding developed markets, which stayed flat or declined

Sales of projectors in Q3 of the 2012 calendar year tipped 2.032 million units, 3.6 per cent up on the previous quarter and representing slight year-on-year growth, according to market watcher Futuresource Consulting.

However, the developed markets slowed or flattened – including in western Europe, the analyst went on to say in its quarterly release.

"In the EMEA region, western Europe posted a regional total of 304,000 units, 15 per cent down on calendar year Q3 2011, the shortfall in demand coming from the entry-level data projector and the home cinema segments that achieved good volumes in calendar year Q2 2012, prior to the start of the European Football Championships," Futuresource stated.

"Promotional stock left in the channel after the close of the championships negatively affected demand, with the greatest decline in volumes seen in Germany."

In EMEA generally, MEA countries showed strength across territories including the UAE, Russia and Turkey. However, the firm added that while growth was achieved across many emerging regions, a number of key education projects in locations such as Mexico and Indonesia had been suspended – casting doubt on the potential for good results for 2012 overall.

Solid-state technology, ultra-short-throw projectors, interactive projection offerings and B2B widescreen formats continued to gradually increase their share of the market worldwide, Futuresource said.