The UK led the growth in the Western European hardcopy market with 12.1% year over year rise in the shipments for the third quarter of 2013, according to a report from International Data Corporation (IDC).
According to the report, the Western European hardcopy market grew 3.6% with sale of over 5.76 million units during the third quarter of 2013, compared to 5.56 million units in previous year.
The ink and laser markets experienced a year on year rise of 2.6% and 6.5% respectively, while shipments in some countries declined.
IDC Western European Imaging Printing and Document Solutions group director Arnaud Gagneux said a strong demand is seen for document management solutions and managed services which is driving sales of smart devices, printers, or multifunctions [MFPs] that can communicate with a wider mobile infrastructure.
"Business inkjet is also becoming a profitable niche in the market with more products being made available," Gagneux added.
IDC Western European Imaging Hardware Devices and Document Solutions group programme director Phil Sargeant said a second growth quarter clearly shows that market recovery is gaining momentum and the recent gains of second quarter were not just a blip.
"Business and commercial markets continue to lead the way with positive growth, while consumer markets remain flat but at least haven’t declined further and have stabilised," Sargeant added.
The report revealed that the hardcopy market in France declined by 1.2% due to drop in consumer inkjet markets, while the German market grew 8.9% to 1.47 million units with increase in inkjet and laser markets.
Based on the type of device, the monochrome market increased year on year by 7.5%, whereas the Color laser grew 4.5% as the A4 multifunction (MFP) products led the market.