Ink Optimism Found in Downward Trending Market

The worldwide Ink market experienced decline in 2014, a trend that is expected to continue through 2019. Like the toner cartridge market, forecasted decline in ink shipments and revenue stem from decreased associated hardware (inkjet) installed base. However, as market conditions continue to fall, pockets of growth, and stalled decline are found.

Photizo Group’s recently released 2015 Imaging 360 Ink Forecast delivers insight into changing market dynamics.

The overall ink market is expected to experience shipment decline from 1,637.8 million in 2014 to 1,575.2 million through 2019, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.8 percent. Similarly, revenue is expected to decline 1.3 percent CAGR through 2019, falling from $27.3 billion to $25.5 billion.

Decline is the predominant trend throughout the market. However, bright spots are identified.

While black and tri-color ink shipments and revenues are expected to decline, single-color ink is projected to grow worldwide.

Silena Thornsberry, Photizo Group Supplies Research Analyst, states, “Large amounts of waste from tri-color cartridges, due to the need to discard the cartridge when one color runs out, is leading to a lack of receptiveness in the increasingly price conscious market. As business inkjet gains traction, and consumers look for lower cost to print, single-color cartridges become attractive.”

Select vendors are also disrupting the downward trending ink market with success. Hewlett Packard is projected to increase ink shipments through the forecast period, lead by its Instant Ink subscription program. Hewlett Packard revenues are still expected to decline slightly through 2019, but less than competitors.

As the ink market continues to decline, it becomes increasingly apparent that optimized strategy, targeted at rapidly changing market and customer dynamics, is necessary to stem decline, and drive growth.

Learn more about Photizo Group’s Imaging 360 Ink Forecast today.