Refurbished Hardware Gains Ground as EU Compliance Deadline Nears
BOSTON, October 5, 2026 – The worldwide market for OEM-refurbished multifunction printers (MFPs) and printers strengthened in the first half of 2026, according to the IDC Worldwide Semiannual Refurbished MFP/Printer Tracker. Unit shipments grew by 14.5% year over year, with growth concentrated in the Americas and EMEA.
Enterprise buyers are balancing cost pressure with sustainability commitments, and in Europe a regulatory mandate is firming up.
What is happening in the OEM-refurbished MFP/printer market in 2026?
In 2026H1 alone, the worldwide OEM-refurbished market reached a record $96.9 million in value. Western Europe dominates the category, holding 39.2% of global value, even though the United States ships more units; the region’s heavier mix of higher-value A3 color laser MFPs accounts for the gap.
“OEM refurbishment isn’t growing in a vacuum. It’s expanding against an already large third-party refurbished market in Europe. Tech buyers, however, expect top-tier quality on both the hardware and the consumables, an expectation that OEM-backed programs are better positioned to meet than third-party alternatives, and that gap is where the demand for OEM refurbished is coming from,” says Corrine Lim, senior data manager at IDC.
Europe Market at a Glance
- Regulation makes it mandatory, not optional. The European Union’s Ecodesign and Energy Labelling Working Plan named imaging equipment a priority category in 2022, with mandatory compliance requirements expected to take effect in 2027. France already requires public buyers to source a minimum share of IT hardware as refurbished, starting at 20% in 2024 and rising to 25% in 2027 and 30% by 2030.
- Economics now reward it, not just policy. Cost pressure on new IT hardware, tied to component supply constraints and rising demand for AI infrastructure, makes refurbished equipment the more economical choice for budget-conscious buyers.
- Financing and OEM backing are lowering the remaining barriers. Leasing options for refurbished hardware are emerging for large corporate and public-sector buyers. OEM refurbishment programs now close the gaps that once kept larger enterprises buying only new equipment. They offer warranty and service terms broadly on par with those of new devices, plus original replacement parts and secure data erasure.
Market Outlook
IDC expects Western Europe to lead OEM-refurbished MFP and printer growth, with the region’s unit shipments projected to achieve a 26% CAGR over the next five years. With end user behavior shifting and sustainability regulations tightening, manufacturers face growing pressure to offer refurbished and circular models in their line-up. “OEMs’ established credibility positions them strongly to offer a range of refurbished models that tech buyers can have confidence in,” Lim added.
About IDC
International Data Corporation (IDC) is the technology intelligence layer of the AI economy. A global leader in research and data for more than 60 years, IDC’s expert analysts, proprietary datasets, and rigorous methodologies are trusted by business and IT leaders to guide critical business strategies and IT investments. Today, that intelligence is built into the tools and workflows where work gets done with IDC Quanta, making work sharper, teams faster, and businesses harder to beat.
Visit www.idc.com, subscribe to the IDC blog, or follow IDC on X and LinkedIn for the latest industry insights.
All product and company names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.