The market of technical consumer products in the Czech Republic showed positive developments in the first quarter of 2016 (+3.2% compared to Q1 2015). Growth was driven mainly by the small domestic appliances, telecommunications, and major domestic appliances. In detail, the performances of the different sectors, according to the data published by Gfk Temax.
CZECH REPUBLIC: TECHNICAL CONSUMER GOODS
SALES VALUE BY CATEGORY
Major domestic appliances
The MDA market registered solid growth in Q1 2016 – up by 3.5 percent, compared to Q1 2015. This growth is expected to continue for the rest of 2016. Tumble dryers performed best and rose by 19.1 percent, compared to Q1 2015. Average prices for tumble dryers fell by 5 percent in the comparison period. Washer dryers performed well in the washing machines segment – up by 46 percent in value terms.
Small domestic appliances
In Q1 2016, the SDA market grew by 14.4 percent, compared to Q1 2015. All product groups did well, except juicers and irons. Intense pulsed light (IPL) products rose by 61 percent in Q1 2016, and the average price increased by 6 percent. Liquidizers and glass kettles both rose substantially in value, compared to Q1 2015.
Consumer electronics
In Q1 2016, the sector registered a decline of 6.9 percent, compared to the same period last year, driven by some key product groups. In the Panel TVs segment, there was growth in sales of ultra-high definition (UHD) TVs, which reached nearly 30 percent of the overall segment value, compared to Q1 2015 (when UHD TVs had a 9 percent share). Action cams also strengthened their share (now 70 percent) in the camcorders segment, which rose by 5.1 percent, compared to Q1 2015.
Photography
The photografy sector registered a decline of 8.1 percent in Q1 2016, compared to the same period last year. All three digital still camera (DSC) segments declined – single-lens reflex (SLR), system cameras, and fixed-lens cameras. On the other hand, the interchangeable lenses segment performed well – up by 41.7 percent on the same period in 2015. Increases in average prices were noted in the sector.
Information technology
The sector reported a fall in value in Q1 2016 – down by 4.1 percent, compared to the same period last year. This drop was noticeable in the mobile computing products (down by 1.6 percent), and mediatablets (down by 25.8 percent) segments. Monitors were up by 10.5 percent (especially on screen sizes of 24 inches and larger), and desktop computing products remained stable and accounted for a third of the IT market.
Telecommunications
In Q1 2016, the TC sector grew by 20.8 percent, compared to the same period last year. Feature phones registered a double-digit decline, while smartphones did well in the same period. The biggest selling products in the smartphones segment were those with screen sizes between 5 and 5.6 inches, representing nearly 60 percent of the market.
Office equipment and consumables
The OE sector declined in Q1 2016 – down by 5.3 percent, compared to the same period last year. Both product groups flagged in Q1 2016. Average prices in the inkjet printing category increased, but the market was driven down by falls in sales of laser printing devices.
