With the first two quarters of decline out of the way, finally, the printer market was able to make some gains.  Monochrome printers showed an increase of 17%, while colour increased 7% for a total of 14% on a Q/Q and Y/Y basis.  Last year, gains were only slightly better with 19% (monochrome) and 9% (colour), totaling 16% from Q2 to Q3.  On a Y/Y basis, the news is much better than third quarter 2008 to 2009; -27% (monochrome), -9% (colour) and -25% for the total segment.

Samsung had a fantastic quarter in increasing both units shipped and revenue.  While this is good news for Samsung, there is a down side; Samsung has the lowest price point of any vendor.  The research & development dollars they are focusing through innovation, needs to be reflected in an adjustment to the price point, in order to make further gains.

Exhibit 1: Printer Market Summary Q3-10

	Monochrome Lasers	Colour Lasers	All Printers
Shipments	87,793	25,494	113,287
Change from last Y	17%	7%	14%
Revenue	$ 35.4	$ 17.5	$  52.9
Change from last Y	12%	-1%	7%

Exhibit 2: Annual Printer Shipments: 2007 - 2012  

For 2010, the forecast is an increase of 16%, followed by 10% for 2011 and 9% for 2012.  Slight adjustments were made to forecast the speed sub-group level, but the total market forecast remains the same.  The third quarter results of a 14% increase was certainly good news.  Further good news is that the fourth quarter historically shows an increase and accounts for 30% of the total year shipments.  Will it be enough to meet this forecast, possibly, but only time will tell.

Exhibit 3: Overall Segment Growth (Units)

Exhibit 4: Single Function Printer Shipments

Exhibit 5: Monochrome Laser Printer Vendor Ranking by Unit Shipments

Exhibit 6: Colour Printer Shipments

Exhibit 7: Colour Laser Printer Vendor Ranking by Unit Shipments

Shipments

History repeats itself with a third quarter increase in both monochrome and colour printers.  Over 14,000 more units were shipped in Q3 from Q2, and for the first three quarters combined, 43,000 more units have been shipped this year compared to last. Colour accounted for 23% of the segment this quarter, down from 24% last quarter.

The Q/Q and Y/Y unit shipments increased 17% for monochrome and 7% for colour, for a total increase of 14%.  As for the laser segment (single & multifunction), unit shipments increased 16% over Q2 and 13% over Q3 2009.  In Q3, the ratio of single to multifunction shipments was 1.5:1; of course once you add inkjet, that ratio increases to at least 6:1.  For comparison, in Q2, the ratio was 1.5:1 and Q3 2009 was 1.4:1; this is an indication that single function vendors are making the changes needed to be competitive again. 

Exhibit 8: Unit Shipments by Quarter Q4 2008 – Q3 2010