UAE's hardcopy peripherals market continues to suffer under strain of downturn, says IDC

IDC's latest research shows the UAE's HCP market declined 33.7% in volume in Q2 2009 when compared to the same period in 2008, following hot on the heels of the 29.1% year-on-year downturn experienced in the first quarter of the year.

Mr. Siamak Rahnama, Research Analyst with IDC Middle East, Africa, and Turkey's Imaging and Hardcopy Devices Group, says the full force of the economic crisis was felt by the UAE's HCP market in Q2 2009 as it experienced an unprecedented decline.

"Companies from the important real estate, construction, tourism, and financial sectors have continued to curb their expenditure on HCP technology, while consumers have also become more cautious with their spending, preferring to delay their HCP purchases or opt for cheaper models."

The contraction in the HCP market was noticed across all form factors in Q2 2009. The multifunctional peripheral (MFP) segment declined 29.3% in volume year-on-year, while shipments of single-function printers contracted 37.9% over the same period.

"Despite the decline, MFP adoption rates have maintained their course, as end users continue to shift away from single-function devices, even in a contracting market,"

says Rahnama.

In terms of technology, the mono laser, color laser, and inkjet segments all suffered severe double-digit year-on-year declines in Q2 2009. "The UAE HCP market is going through a turbulent time as it continues to bear the brunt of the economic crisis. The year-on-year declines experienced in the past two quarters are expected to continue throughout the year as IDC forecasts a significant contraction in HCP shipments for 2009 as a whole," says Rahnama.

IDC's hardcopy peripherals tracker fills the need for detailed and timely supply-side information on the UAE's market for hardcopy peripherals (printers, MFPs, single-function copiers). The comprehensive database details the changes and trends in the increasingly competitive UAE market and includes powerful query filters and essential market intelligence that lets users generate actionable insights to plan short- and long-term strategies. It also provides detailed overviews of the UAE's HCP market and analyzes key products, trends, and vendor strategies, sorting data by vendor shipments and revenue, based on technology, price band, model, and speed.