Canon views India as an important market for its printing and imaging solutions, where it aims to capitalize on growing demand in smaller towns. Toshiaki Nomura, President and CEO of Canon in India, announced the company's long-term growth plans.
Canon has set a goal to reach 10,000 active distributors in India by 2027. The company is demonstrating double-digit growth in its core business areas and is betting on increasing demand from enterprises, government institutions, content creators, and residents of small towns to stimulate the next phase of development in the printing sector.
The expansion plan is aimed at increasing product availability and strengthening Canon's position in emerging markets. Nomura told PTI that India is one of Canon's priority markets, which is growing at double-digit rates annually.
In recent years, the company has shown double-digit growth across all its key product lines, including printers, cameras, multifunction devices, and industrial machines, and intends to maintain this pace. According to data from the business analytics platform Tofler, Canon's total revenue in India in 2025 was 3,623.8 crore rupees, an increase of 6.33%, although net profit decreased by 24% to 82.1 crore rupees.
Growth in Regions
Regarding the printing business, Nomura noted that demand is accelerating in second, third, and fourth-tier cities. He emphasized that this emerging demand is driven by consumer, education, government, manufacturing, and SME segments. Canon's printing portfolio includes both small-format printers and large-format industrial machines and multifunction copiers, which are 'growing at a steady pace.'
To sustain this growth, the company seeks to deepen its market penetration. Currently, there are about 6,000 active distributors in the traditional distribution channel, but management believes this is insufficient to cover the regions where demand is arising. Canon aims for over 10,000 active distributors nationwide, expanding its network into 700 cities, and also plans to develop its service channel.
Prospects in the Imaging Market
In the imaging market, Nomura sees significant growth potential in India, where Canon competes with Japanese manufacturers such as Nikon, Fujifilm, and Sony. Growth here is stimulated by the film industry, OTT platforms, and content creators, ranging from large studios to small ambitious creators. He highlighted huge opportunities, especially among youth who wish to upgrade their shooting quality from smartphone level to camera level.
Nomura also pointed out that the imaging market is shifting towards mirrorless cameras, displacing traditional DSLRs, and demand is extending not only to still photography but also to videography. Therefore, the company approaches this comprehensively, meeting the needs for both imaging and videography.
In 2025, Canon's market share in India exceeded 30%, and this figure is expected to grow. In addition to traditional retail channels, Canon implements an omnichannel strategy that includes its own online stores, quick commerce channels, and e-commerce platforms, while simultaneously strengthening its presence in large-format retail and B2B distribution through system integrators and value-added distributors.
Nomura believes that both offline and online channels will grow simultaneously, as they serve different customer needs: offline channels provide consultation and customer interaction, whereas digital platforms offer broader reach. Furthermore, the focus of the branded Canon Image Square stores is on improving the customer experience rather than just increasing the number of sales points. Currently, about 60–70 such stores operate across the country, where demonstrations and consultations take place.
In addition to the main areas of imaging and printing, Canon is exploring growth opportunities in new sectors such as medical diagnostic equipment, semiconductor manufacturing, and video surveillance and security solutions.
