The continuing economic crisis – constraining GDP, consumer and commercial confidence, and capital and credit availability – has meant that demand for personal computers will slow fairly quickly, IDC has warned, indicating industry consolidation may be on the cards.
IDC expects worldwide PC shipments to grow just 3.8pc in 2009, with shipment value falling by 5.3pc. This is considerably slower than second-quarter projections of 13.7pc growth in units and 4.5pc in shipment value.
The outlook for full year 2008 and 2010 have each been lowered a couple of percent to 12.4pc and 10.9pc, respectively, with growth above 12pc for 2011 and 2012.
Emerging markets in Latin America, central Europe, the Middle East and Africa are among the most significantly affected in the short term.
Falling commodity prices, a rising dollar and restricted credit have had a dramatic affect on consumer and distribution channel financing. These regions had been among the fastest-growing markets over the past several years as falling prices helped new users acquire systems.
Now Latin America and central/eastern Europe are expecting volume to fall through the third quarter of 2009. Volume will continue to expand in the Middle East and Africa, but at a slower pace than in recent years.
More mature regions are also expecting slower growth. Although the credit crunch will have a significant impact on spending in these regions too, a larger portion of the market will be able to weather the storm.
Volume growth in these regions has been lowered by 4pc to 9pc for 2009. Shipments in the US are expected to decline by almost 3pc in 2009 with low single-digit increases in subsequent years. Japan and Canada will see low single-digit growth for a couple years as well.
Western Europe has been slower to feel the credit crunch, and low-cost notebooks remain a huge driver, so growth is expected to continue at 6pc, although this is well below growth of more than 20pc in 2008.
Asia/Pacific excluding Japan (APeJ) is also affected, although growth is not slowing as fast as in other emerging regions, and total growth remains above the mature regions. Shipments in APeJ are expected to increase by 7pc in 2009 and by 18-20pc in subsequent years, making APeJ as the fastest-growing region throughout the forecast.
“Portable PC adoption, falling prices, and system replacements remain the key drivers,” said Loren Loverde, director of IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker.
“Low-cost mini notebooks will help volume, but pressure margins and revenues. Consumer and commercial segments will be much more conservative in their purchases over the coming year or two, and while low prices will remain essential, they will not drive volumes as they did the past few years.”
By John Kennedy
Pictured: low-cost notebooks continue to drive PC growth in western Europe
