Sales of Digital Cameras on Torrid Pace as Makers Extend Lines

摘要

The market for digital cameras continues to expand at robust pace. Demand in Japan and North America, where the market first took off, has also remained strong, although growth rates have slowed. This year, markets in Europe and Asia outside Japan have seen remarkable growth. Seeing strong demand for digital cameras around the globe, some Japanese manufacturers have been busy building up production capacities. Meanwhile, momentum is building to bring digital single-lens reflex cameras to market. Manufacturers have extended their lineups of digital cameras so that now the variety of models is extensive. According to statistics from the Camera & Imaging Products Association, shipments of digital cameras in Japan from January through August came to 5.05 million units, up 35 percent from the same period of 2002. Meanwhile, exports for the same period were 18.65 million units, up 98 percent. That means total shipments came to 23.7 million units, an increase of 80 percent.