Australian Printer Market Breaks Record

July 4th, 2006: The Australian printer market recorded it’s highest sales ever, exceeding 90,000 units in the first 2006 quarter.

The results, which were recorded by IDC Australia, showed the spike in volumes came from low-end single-function mono laser printers, which hit a sub-A$200 benchmark in the fourth quarter of 2005.

Rishi Ghai an Analyst in Hardcopy Peripherals for IDC Australia, said, “Recent price reductions by vendors are poised to accelerate further commoditisation of laser printers, boosting uptake by SOHO users”. The high volumes were all the more remarkable due to the fact that they offset the 14%drop in the average selling price of mono lasers from the previous quarter.

HP consolidated its rank in the laser printer market with impressive shipments in both mono and colour laser segments in the first quarter of 2006. Lexmark's overall weak performance saw it slip three positions down to fifth. On the other hand, Kyocera Mita, Brother and Samsung moved up one position each to claim second, third and fourth place, respectively.

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