2024 South Africa Printer Industry Report

May 21, 2025

1. Market Overview

Market Size and Growth Trends

Total Market: In 2024, the South African printer market generated approximately USD 1.098 billion, and it is projected to reach USD 1.476 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 4.3%.
Inkjet Printer Segment: Revenue from the inkjet printer segment was USD 791 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 959 million by 2030, with a CAGR of 3.2%.
Office Printer Segment: The office printer market size reached USD 153 million in 2024, with an expected annual growth rate of 5.7% through 2031.

Market Structure

Multifunction Printers (MFPs): MFPs have become the primary source of revenue in 2024, favored by SMEs due to their integrated capabilities (printing, scanning, copying), which improve office efficiency.
Monochrome Printers: Black-and-white printers still dominate the market, accounting for about 40% of unit sales in H1 2024, especially devices printing 20–59 pages per minute.

2. Major Brand Performance

According to Q1 2024 data, the market share and performance of major printer brands in South Africa are as follows:

Brand	Units Sold	Market Share	YoY Growth Rate
Konica Minolta	4,985	16.7%	+18.2%
HP	4,741	15.9%	-12.5%
Canon	4,697	15.7%	-29.1%
Other Brands	15,368	51.6%	+5.7%
Total	29,773	100%	-3.3%

In the personal MFP market, Canon led with 41.3% market share, followed by Brother (27.5%) and HP (23.2%).

3. Industry Trends and Challenges

Digital Transformation & Sustainability

Digital Shift: The adoption of cloud services and digital workflows is reducing demand for traditional paper printing, particularly impacting monochrome and low-end color segments.
Sustainable Printing: Environmental concerns are driving growth in sustainable printing. In 2024, this market reached USD 18.4 million, projected to grow to USD 28.8 million by 2030, with a CAGR of 8%.

Key Challenges

Market Decline: Despite a rebound in MFP sales in H1 2024, the overall market remains under pressure, especially in the personal MFP and production copier segments.
Infrastructure Issues: Load shedding (rolling blackouts) and logistics bottlenecks are hindering investment confidence and operational efficiency.

4. Future Outlook and Opportunities

Signs of Recovery

In Q2 2024, the South African MFP market grew by 4.1%, indicating early signs of recovery. Further growth is expected in the second half of the year, driven by Black Friday and holiday promotions.

Key Growth Areas

Packaging & Advertising: Demand for printed packaging, retail materials, and outdoor advertising is increasing, creating new revenue streams.
Education & Security Printing: Growth in educational book printing and secure documents (e.g., IDs, passports) offers significant opportunities.
Regional Expansion: Companies are expanding into other African countries, diversifying their revenue and improving market share.

5. Conclusion

Despite the challenges posed by digitization and economic instability, South Africa’s printer industry shows resilience and potential—especially in MFPs, sustainable printing, and niche markets like packaging and secure document printing. Companies that focus on total cost of ownership (TCO), energy efficiency, and environmentally friendly design will be best positioned to succeed.