China's Gen-Z drives digital camera market recovery in 2024

Demand for social-media optimized models boosts shipments and prices

20250203 Chinese camera story main

Chinese tourists take pictures at Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, Tokyo. (Photo by Akira Kodaka and Kosuke Imamura)

KOHEI YAMADA, YOSHIKA KAKU and NORIKA TAGUCHI

TOKYO -- Global shipments of digital cameras grew for the first time in seven years in 2024, with demand buoyed by China's Generation Z users who are not satisfied with smartphone cameras for stand-out photos for social media.

Shipment volume totaled 8.49 million units, up 10%, according to data released by the Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA) on Monday. In terms of value, shipments grew 15% to 824.7 billion yen ($5.3 billion), marking a fourth straight year of increase and the highest in nine years.

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