Printer Toner Procurement Category Market Research Report from IBISWorld Has Been Updated
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) October 19, 2014 -- Printer toner has a buyer power score of 3.0 out of 5. This score reflects moderately favorable market conditions for buyers. Over the past three years, however, price trends for printer toner have been rising. According to IBISWorld analyst Kevin Young, manufacturers have been pushing toner prices upward because the price of plastic material inputs has been increasing. In addition, demand for toner has been increasing as more businesses and consumers have been spending on printing needs. Increased reliance on digital documents has been mitigating some of this demand increase. But toner is required for users of laser printers and photocopiers and most are proprietary shapes that can only be purchased from manufacturers. As such, manufacturers have been able to raise prices to boost revenue and profit. Over the next three years, toner prices are forecast to continue increasing at a slightly slower rate.
Input costs for printer toner can be highly volatile. Plastic materials (a main input of toner) are derived from oil, which experiences high volatility. Iron ore prices have been highly volatile in the past three years, affecting the volatility of iron oxide (another major component of toner). However, volatile input costs have not translated to wide fluctuations in toner prices, says Young. Major suppliers in this market include Samsung, Hewlett-Packard Development Company LP and Dell. Suppliers have some cushion when input costs rise unexpectedly because manufacturers earn high profit margins on printer toner. Nevertheless, high volatility in the supply chain for printer toner results in some risk for buyers. There is also a low availability of substitute goods for printer toner. Ink cartridges are not compatible with laser printers and photocopiers, which locks users of these machines into purchasing printer toner and allows manufacturers to raise prices without significantly harming sales.
Fortunately for buyers, the level of market share concentration for printer toners is low. A large number of suppliers operate in this market. While name-brand manufacturers dominate the market, less expensive third-party alternatives are widely available. This high level of competition prevents suppliers from raising prices too quickly. Additionally, a low level of product specialization allows buyers to easily switch suppliers. For more information, visit IBISWorld’s Printer Toner procurement category market research report page.
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IBISWorld Procurement Report Key Topics
This report is intended to assist buyers of printer toner, which is a type of ink used with copy machines and laser printers. This report excludes ink cartridges and bulk toner used to refill toner cartridges.
Executive Summary
Pricing Environment
Price Fundamentals
Benchmark Price
Pricing Model
Price Drivers
Recent Price Trend
Price Forecast
Product Characteristics
Product Life Cycle
Total Cost of Ownership
Product Specialization
Substitute Goods
Regulation
Quality Control
Supply Chain & Vendors
Supply Chain Dynamics
Supply Chain Risk
Imports
Competitive Environment
Market Share Concentration
Market Profitability
Switching Costs
Purchasing Process
Buying Basics
Buying Lead Time
Selection Process
Key RFP Elements
Negotiation Questions
Buyer Power Factors
Key Statistics
About IBISWorld Inc.
IBISWorld is one of the world's leading publishers of business intelligence, specializing in Industry research and Procurement research. Since 1971, IBISWorld has provided thoroughly researched, accurate and current business information. With an extensive online portfolio, valued for its depth and scope, IBISWorld’s procurement research reports equip clients with the insight necessary to make better purchasing decisions, faster. Headquartered in Los Angeles, IBISWorld Procurement serves a range of business, professional service and government organizations through more than 10 locations worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.ibisworld.com or call 1-800-330-3772.
Gavin Smith, IBISWorld Inc., +1 (310) 866-5042, [email protected]
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