ICT market analyst, BMI-TechKnowledge Group has announced the publication of its latest report, The Africa Printer Report, which has highlighted that the African market reached 1,138,957 units valued at US$266.49 million in 2002.
Laurika Maller, ICT analyst and author of the report, says that the African printer market is expected to continue its growth, despite inhibiting factors such as poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and unstable political and economic conditions. “Africa has emerged as a dynamic growth market for ICT in recent years, with the Southern and Northern regions being the largest in terms of printer volumes in 2002.”
The Southern African region accounted for 37.4 per cent of shipments while the North African region totaled 37 per cent.
“South Africa (SA) was the largest country market, representing 31 per cent of unit shipments and 32 per cent of value. SA led both the region and the continent, with 352,953 units valued at US$85.31 million shipped in 2002,” adds Maller.
The North African region totaled 421,639 units valued at US$94.82 million, with Egypt accounting for the lion’s share of this with 156,440 units. The West-Central region accounted for 18.6 per cent of units shipped with a value of US$47.51 million, while East Africa had the smallest printer market with seven per cent of printer sales.
“The African printer market is expected to expand at a CAGR rate of 7.1 per cent in terms of units, and a CAGR of 2.1 per cent in value terms over the forecast period to 2007,” concludes Maller.
