Konica Minolta Listed among 2019 Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World

Konica Minolta, Inc. (Konica Minolta) has been listed among the “2019 Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World” (2019 Global 100).

Konica Minolta was named one of the 2019 Global 100, to be announced by Canada-based Corporate Knights in conjunction with the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) (Davos Meeting) to be held from January 22 to 25, 2019 in Davos, Switzerland. This is the second time for Konica Minolta to be included on the prestigious Global 100 list following 2011.

The 2019 Global 100 were selected from among 7,536 major companies around the globe based on an evaluation of environmental, social, and governance indicators as well as the ability to promote diversity and innovation. 8 Japanese companies are on this global list of corporations that excel in sustainability.

Konica Minolta has set the goal of becoming a global company that is vital to society by continuing to create new values that bring innovations to the world in cooperation with stakeholders around the world. To achieve this goal, and in light of the changing social landscape and business environment, Konica Minolta has identified the following six material issues to be addressed with priority, and integrates corporate social responsibility into its management focusing on these issues.

• Environment
• Social innovation
• Customer satisfaction and product safety
• Responsible supply chain
• Human capital
• Diversity

By promoting global initiatives in line with these material issues on a group-wide basis, Konica Minolta hopes to contribute to the evolution of the business community and society at large, and to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

China’s GDP growth slows to 28-year low in 2018

Trade war and debt reduction by regional governments take toll

ISSAKU HARADA, Nikkei staff writerJANUARY 21, 2019 11:04 JST  UPDATED ON JANUARY 21, 2019 14:32 JST

China’s President Xi Jinping   © Reuters

BEIJING — China’s economy grew at its slowest pace in 28 years in 2018, with gross domestic product expanding 6.6%, down 0.2 percentage point from the previous year, according to data released Monday by the country’s National Bureau of Statistics.

The last time economic growth was so tepid was 1990, when the economy slumped in the aftermath of the Tiananmen Square incident. Last year, the economy was hampered by a drive to cut regional government and corporate debt, as well as China’s trade war with the U.S.

Despite the slowdown, the growth rate for 2018 exceeded the target of about 6.5% set by the Chinese government. The economy grew faster in 2017 for the first time in seven years, but slowed again in 2018.

The growth rate was 6.4% in real terms on the year in the October-December period of 2018. It was down 0.1 of a percentage point from the July-September period, marking a slowdown for the third consecutive quarter below or equal to 6.4% for the first time since January-March 2009, just after the collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings.

The growth rate for the October-December quarter of 2018 was the same as the average figure of 6.4% in a market survey conducted jointly by Nikkei and group company Nikkei Quick News. It was the lowest quarterly figure since 1993, the first year for which such statistics are available. Quarter-on-quarter growth slowed to 1.5% from the 1.6% for July-September. Annualized as in developed countries, the growth rate was about 6%.

Other economic data was also released on Monday. Fixed-asset investment, including construction of plants and condominiums, rose 5.9% on the year in 2018, contracting from the previous year’s 7.2% increase. The biggest factor was slowing infrastructure investment, including in railways and roads, which grew 3.8% on the year in 2018, down markedly from the previous year’s 19% increase.

Total retail sales of consumer goods — a sum of the sales of department stores, supermarkets and online shopping — jumped 9.0% on the year in 2018, but was slower than previous year’s 10.2% increase. The growth rate of retail consumer goods sales fell below 10% for the first time since 2003, dragged down by sluggish sales of cars and smartphones. Total retail consumer goods sales grew only 8.2% in December.

Industrial output increased 6.2% on the year in 2018, contracting from last year’s 6.6% increase, dragged down by slumping production of cars, smartphones and PCs. Industrial output grew 5.7% in December.

The U.S. and China imposed additional tariffs of up to 25% on each other in July-September. Chinese products worth a total of $250 billion were affected by the additional U.S. tariffs, and exports to the U.S. fell for these products. As the impact of the trade war became clear, both consumption and production have shown steep declines since autumn.

Yusuke Miura, senior economist of Mizuho Research Institute, said that the “decline in the fourth quarter in 2018 is caused by slowing consumption rather than the direct impact of the trade war.”

Retail sales in China jumped 9.0% in 2018, but were below the 10.2% rise in 2017. (Photo by Imaginechina via AP)

He noted that auto sales are falling in reaction to the tapering of stimulus measures from 2017, and home loans are burdening people who bought houses during the 2016 boom, putting further downward pressure on consumption. “The trade war might lead employees of exporting companies to cut spending,” he added.

The slowdown should continue in 2019 because it is likely that the influence of the trade tiff will spread and exports will decline further.

Market analysts see strong downward pressures in the first half of the year, with the world’s No. 2 economy expected to expand only 6.2% in real terms, according to the average of forecasts from 32 economists polled by Nikkei and Nikkei Quick News in December.

There may be some improvement in the second half as the government has already announced support measures, including monetary easing, large tax cuts and an expansion of infrastructure investment, but the surge could be temporary.

“We expect the uptick in industrial output and consumer spending to prove short-lived,” said Julian Evans-Pritchard of Capital Economics in a report on Monday. He points out that headwinds from weakening global growth and slower credit growth could likely intensify in the coming months.

Nikkei staff writer Akihide Anzai in Tokyo and Kentaro Iwamoto in Singapore contributed to this article.

HP Retains Leadership Position in Over All Printer Market in India

India HCP market posted quarterly shipments of approx. 1.1 million units in 2018Q3, a Quarter-on-Quarter growth of 25.6 percent, as per latest IDC Asia Pacific Quarterly Hardcopy Peripherals Tracker, CY2018Q3. While there was a Year-On-Year decline of 1.7 percent, it can be primarily attributed to the strong demand for laser printers post GST implementation last year.

Inkjet printer shipments grew by 5.5 percent Year-On-Year with a contribution of 55.3 percent to overall India HCP market, the highest ever recorded. Growth in inkjet printer shipments was led by Ink tank printers which recorded Year-On-Year growth of 12.9 percent. While the overall laser printer market declined Year-On-Year, due to the government’s efforts on enforcing restrictions on the refurbished copier market, the laser copier market registered a healthy Year-On-Year growth of 37.5 percent.

“Shipments in 2018Q3 were driven primarily by the online channel segment in preparation for the sales events in the run up to the Diwali Festival. Unlike the previous years, 2018 was marked by the increased focus of e-commerce players on the Printer category. Having realized the success of mobile phone, accessories and the various white goods categories in previous such online events, both HCP and e-commerce players were fairly confident of replicating it with Printer category as well this year.” says Bani Johri, Market Analyst, IPDS, IDC India.

Government’s strict regulation on the Refurbished Copier market through tight monitoring and increased seizing of illegal units at major ports gave an impetus to the original Copier market. The refurbished market has always been an eyesore for original copier vendors and with its partial closure, they are getting ample opportunities to expand their customer base by targeting the users of these machines with attractive pricing schemes.

HP Inc. (Excluding Samsung) maintained its leadership in HCP with a market share of 39.4 percent and a 22.7 percent quarter on quarter growth. It increased its promotional activities by launching schemes for retailers centred around product display and visibility. In the inkjet segment HP retained its 2^nd position with a share of 32.5 percent. On the Copier side, HP shipments grew by 25 percent quarter over quarter due to demand from the corporate and Government segment.

Epson remained at 2^nd position in the overall HCP market by clocking 20.7 percent quarter on quarter growth and it also continued to hold its leadership in inkjet segment with a unit share of 40.2 percent and a 21.8 percent quarter on quarter growth. The growth is primarily attributed to Epson’s increased shipment to the online channel and LFR stores. The sales of a few top selling models picked up amidst the upcoming product portfolio refresh.

Canon recorded year on year growth of 24.5 percent and maintained its 3^rd position in the HCP market with the help of its Inkjet and the Laser Copier segment. In the copier segment it maintained its leadership position with 28.4 percent unit market share. The Government’s stricter regulations on the RC market coupled with Canon’s increased focus on corporate segment helped to maintain its dominance in copier market. In the Inkjet market, Canon saw a strong year on year growth of 55.2 percent because of addition of new channel partners and change in channel strategy, which included attractive channel distribution and schemes, as well as strong push for online sales. Canon especially focussed on its Ink tank models through channel schemes.

IDC India Market Outlook:

“Post festive season, market is expected to continue the year on year growth momentum in 2018Q4 owing to strong consumer and SMB demand. Ink tank printers will continue gaining traction and compensate for decline in shipments of laser printers. Government’s continuous efforts on crackdown of reconditioned copier market should also translate into strong demand for original laser copiers,” says Nishant Bansal, Research Manager, IPDS & PC, IDC India.