“Except for the photo segment, all categories registered growth in the second quarter of 2014. However, the declining rate of the photo segment was lower, reaching little over minus 18%. The biggest growth in value (29%) was posted by the telecom sector, which reached EUR128 million. Electronics rose nearly 27%, followed by large home appliances, small home appliances, IT and printers,” the GfK TEMAX study for Romania showed.
Considering growth in the first half of the year, with 8% in the first quarter and 17% in the second quarter, it is very likely the growth trend will continue, the report notes.
On the telecom segment in the second quarter, non-subsidized sales of smartphones and classic mobile phones were 29% higher on the year, reaching EUR128 million, due to a rise in smartphone sales, while demand for classic mobile phones declined.
Sales of electronics increased 27% in the second quarter, to EUR67 million.
“The growing trend peaked in June, when there was significant growth on the main electronics sub-segment – flat screen TVs – boosted by the FIFA World Cup,” the study notes.
Besides TV sets, other products such as gaming consoles – largely influenced by recent product launches – posted double-digit growth in the second quarter. The audio segment countered its decline and shows promising signs on the soundbar segment.
Small home appliances saw a growth of nearly 13% in the second quarter, to EUR27 million, as nearly all sub-segments registered double-digit growth, the highest of which were posted by hair driers and juicers. The main products that generated growth on the kitchen appliance segment were higher price appliances such as espresso machines, food processors and fruit and vegetable juicers. Niche products such as clothing irons and robot vacuum cleaners also had a positive evolution on the household appliance segment.
Large appliances posted a 12.5% growth in the second quarter, to EUR83 million, largely influenced by air conditioning and washing machines, which accounted for more than half of the segment’s sales. Although all large appliance segments registered growth, the market was boosted by certain key-segments such as built-in appliances, frost-free refrigerators and environmental-friendly washing machines, which continued to register double-digit growth.
IT sales posted a growth of 7.5% in the second quarter, reaching EUR93 million. After a long period of decline, desktop computers registered double-digit growth, while laptops stagnated and computing tablets and desktop replacement continued to grow, the report notes.
The printers, copiers and disposable items posted a growth of nearly 7% in the second quarter, to EUR14 million.
After a rough start in 2014, the photo segment continued its decline but at a slower rate, of minus 18%, reaching EUR7 million. In the first quarter of the year, this segment declined by nearly 40%. GfK notes D-SRL cameras posted slight single-digit growth, which was not enough to balance out a double-digit decline on the compact camera segment.