More than 140,000 printers, worth $37.5 million, were sold in Romania in 2003, accounting for a 19% increase from the previous year, according to estimates released by APDETIC (The Association of IT and Communications Equipment Producers and Distributors), the organisation that comprises the biggest suppliers on the Romanian market.

APDETIC's estimates rely on the quarterly research released by the IDC last year. Figures show that, as compared to 2002, the volume of printers distributed last year on the domestic market was almost 32% higher. At the same time, however, the market value increased by a mere 19% in 2003 year-on-year. In 2002, a number of 182,530 printers were sold for a total of $31.46 million.

According to data made public by the IDC last year, Hewlett-Packard ranks first in the top of producers, followed by Lexmark, Canon and Epson.

"Just like the entire Romanian IT market, the printers' market also witnessed significant growth against 2002. Ink-jet printers made up the most dynamic segment, mainly due to the extremely attractive price (below $100) of the low-end range. The laser printer segment also posted a slight increase, a trend that will certainly strengthen in 2004, as the users' needs become more sophisticated," states Valentin Negoita, APDETIC chairman.

Inkjet printers accounted for 81.41% of the total sales, whereas laser printers contributed only 12.57% to the total results.

The APDETIC estimates will soon be compared to the IDC survey on the evolution of the Romanian printers' market last year. iuliana.cerchez@zf.ro

More than 140,000 printers, worth $37.5 million, were sold in Romania in 2003, accounting for a 19% increase from the previous year, according to estimates released by APDETIC (The Association of IT and Communications Equipment Produc