The survey measured numbers of cards manufactured and market volumes. Major findings revealed that globally, in 2004, approximately 13.2 billion cards were manufactured, a 13 percent growth rate. The global card marketing measure in U.S. dollars increased 33.2 percent to $8.2 billion, resulting from the impact of microprocessor chip card growth. The regions surveyed were North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and MEA (Middle East/Africa). The products surveyed were plastic cards of all thicknesses including traditional cards—with and without magnetic stripe, and chip cards that include contact, contactless and combi-cards for diverse applications such as financial hologram cards, ID cards, telecom cards, gift cards and more. The Survey revealed the following growth statistics: • 13% global unit market growth to 13.2 billion cards • 33.2 % global dollar market increase to $8.2 billion/ impacted by microprocessor chip card growth. • North America remains #1 in units and #4 in dollars / still lagging in chip card growth. • Europe is #1 in dollars and #2 in units / driven by microprocessor chip cards in the financial and other secure (GSM) sectors. • Asia/Pacific card market is #2 in dollars and #3 in units / driven by China and chip card growth. • Latin America is #3 in dollars. The Survey analyzed card-specific statistics and reported the following: • Traditional cards represent 82.6% of the units and 17.9 % of the dollars – decreases from 2004 — while chip cards increased to 17.9% of the units and 82.1% of the dollars on a global basis. • Non secure cards represent 42.9% of the global card unit market. • Financial hologram cards (including those with chips) represent 11.9% of the global card unit market. • North American unit card market remains #1 in 2004 with 52.1% share while Europe is #2 with 21.9% (both slightly decreasing from 2003) — and Asia/Pacific is #3 with 18.7% of the unit market, an increase from 2003. • Financial hologram units increased by 12.7% and dollars increased by 23.4% impacted by EMV migration to chip card. • Other secure cards had significant growth with 14.5% on units and 39.9% on dollars impacted by GSM/telecom and transit chip cards. Memory chip cards (prepaid telephone) have rapidly declined in most markets. • Non-secure units are up 13% driven by the Loyalty and Gift card sector. The dollar value increased by 14.4%, a change from 2003’s decrease in this value, due to easing of price pressure. • Chip Card units grew robustly to 2.3 billion units for a 21.9% increase, while dollars grew to $6.7 billion, influenced by GSM/Telecom growth, transit growth, EMV migration, prepaid telephone memory card rapid decline and healthcare growth. lneuman@icma.com www.icma.com