The worldwide document copier market grew 9.1% in a year in the first quarter of 2010, said analyst IDC.

The year-on-year increase saw 28.7m units shipped in the quarter, according to the IDC "Worldwide Quarterly Hardcopy Peripherals Tracker".

This was the second consecutive quarter of year-on-year unit growth, and the first quarter since early 2008 where hardcopy peripherals shipment value ($13.8 billion) had also experienced year-on-year growth (7%).

"It is encouraging to now see both units and shipment value growth in all the major segments of the hardcopy peripherals market, and we believe this trend will continue into 2010," said Ruth Flynn, an IDC analyst.

Once again the colour laser MFP (multifunction product) market saw the greatest year-on-year growth, with 25% in 1Q10, followed closely by monochrome laser MFPs, which grew by 18%.

Samsung is the number one ranked vendor for both colour and monochrome laser MFP shipments, and posted 35% and 76% year-on-year growth respectively.

But colour inkjet MFPs continue to make up the majority of the hardcopy peripherals market with a 51% share. HP continues to dominate the colour inkjet MFP market with a number one ranking and 21% year-on-year growth.

For its research, IDC tracks A2-A4 devices, including single-function printers, printer-based MFPs, and single-function digital copiers.