(iTers News) – Worldwide shipments of production printers grew 15% year over year to 13,000 units (printers and MFPs) in the second quarter of 2013, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Production Printer Tracker. Despite the increase in shipment volume, shipment value declined -4% year over year to more than US$500 million for the same time period.

On a geographic basis, the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region enjoyed the highest year-over-year growth (16.6%) with shipments reaching 1,300 units. The Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan) region had 9.0% year-over-over growth with shipments totaling 1,500 units. Devices in the Mid-Production and Production categories were key contributors to the market in Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan) with year-over-year growth of 47.2% and 5.3%, respectively.

"2013 will be a growth year for the digital production market. While the offset-to-digital migration is a part of the story, it can't be ignored that vendors have been actively making technology enhancements from job creation to finishing, ensuring that digital print is value-added print," said Amy Machado, Senior Research Analyst, Hardcopy Peripheral Solutions at IDC.

Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Production Print Tracker, September 2013

(Credit : IDC)