According to the latest research by CONTEXT, as the refillable ink tank market share grows, so does the demand for ink bottles.
Refillable ink tank printers account for nearly a third of total inkjet hardware revenue as buyers increasingly seek out more economical ways of printing, according to CONTEXT, the IT market intelligence company.
The latest data from CONTEXT reveals that the Refillable ink tank printer revenue share has increased from around 26% of the total inkjet market in 2021 to 32% this year.
That is on the back off strong performance in 2020 and 2021 in most markets across the region. As of Week 15, the Ink Bottles revenue index for Europe stood at around 30% higher than the Revenue Trend Index baseline. Buyers are shifting over from laser and inkjet machines to ink tanks because of ink usage efficiency.
Elsewhere, revenue performance for toners remains above the baseline in the UK, France and Italy as of Week 15, and is sitting on the index line in Europe as a whole. That is after a sharp decline during this period in 2020 as lockdowns shut offices across the region. The recovery this year is due to two main factors, according to CONTEXT. On the one hand, offices are reopening, driving up demand for toners. The market is also benefitting from the fact that a shortage of inkjet printers during the pandemic led to some consumers buying entry-level laser printers.
Revenue for ink cartridges across Europe dipped below the index baseline as of Week 15. That is despite an increase at the start of the year and strong performance in 2020 as inkjet printer sales surged due to lockdowns.
However, any increase in revenue this year must be considered in light of strong price increases since Q2 2021. In fact, the segment is characterised by decreasing demand and continued shortages particularly impacted by chip supply issues.
