U.S. Color Page Printer and Color Laser MFP 2004-2008 Forecast and Analysis by Format Size and Engine Type

This IDC study quantifies the U.S. color page printer and color laser MFP market by format size and engine type. It contains IDC's review and forecast of this market for 1997–2008. Unit shipment, value of shipment, and average selling price information is presented. A 2003 year in review is provided with market shares for 2001, 2002, and 2003 by format and engine type for units and shipment value. Data for 1997–2003 is actual; data for 2004–2008 is projected. Key findings include:

The U.S. color page market is the fastest growing segment of the U.S. printer market with a 2004–2008 CAGR of 17%, compared with the total printer market CAGR of -6%. The U.S. color laser MFP market is increasing at a rapid rate with a 2004–2008 CAGR of 35%. Growth is expected to come from higher color copier connect rates and substantially higher MFP activity from printer vendors. In addition, vendors are expected to increasingly emphasize the color office market opportunity while still maintaining their presence in the traditional print-for-pay and graphic arts color markets. The split between A3 and A4 devices has remained fairly stable and is expected to remain so throughout the forecast period. Multipass, once the dominant engine type, is expected to decline throughout the forecast period. Multipass became the minority of the color page printer market in 2002 and is expected to remain so throughout the forecast period.

"Within the combined color page printer and color laser MFP market, the single-pass segment is the fastest growing, with a CAGR of 22%. Vendors are transitioning their product lines to single pass from multipass to take advantage of the speed advantages the single-pass engines have to offer." — Alyson Frasco, director, Worldwide Hardcopy Trackers and Forecasts