Western Europe sales set the toner

Branded cartridge prices are rising, says Context

Revenue from sales of OEM toner cartridges rose two per cent across western Europe year on year in the first 22 weeks of 2014, according to Context data.

Zivile Brazdziunaite, imaging market analyst at Context, said this was driven by a rise in average selling price (ASP) of five per cent year on year rather than an increase in sales through distribution.

"Following the recent downturn during the recession, OEM toner sales are recovering in Spain, Italy and Germany, which has helped to lift some vendors' performance," Brazdziunaite said.

"This is the case in particular for Xerox, which registered the highest OEM toner year-on-year unit sales growth of 32 per cent, as well as a significant increase in revenues for the period."

Across western Europe, branded toner revenues fell three per cent year on year. Also, rising ASPs did not affect the compatible toner market, where prices slid nine per cent year on year.

In compatible cartridges, sales by volume rose 16 per cent and revenues six per cent, with Spain, France, Germany, Italy, and the UK the primary beneficiaries.

Brazdziunaite said HP toner sales shrank seven per cent and revenues three per cent for the year to date. It still holds 46 per cent of the market, however, followed by Samsung with 17 per cent, and Lexmark and Brother each holding eight per cent of the market.