IDC's preliminary Q2 results show portable PC shipments accelerating with 50% year-on-year growth in Asia/Pacific

IDC's preliminary results show that the Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan) PC market totaled 14.3 million units in the second quarter of 2007, representing an 11% sequential growth and a 22% year-on-year growth. Total 2Q07 shipments for the region came in 5% higher than IDC's initial forecasts. Except for Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Taiwan, all the countries grew year-on-year.

"Portable PCs, in particular, picked up the pace again this quarter with year-on-year growth rates not seen in over a year," said Bryan Ma, Director of Asia/Pacific Personal Systems Research at IDC. "Across the region, portables grew faster, thanks to retail promotions and channel fulfillment in markets like China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Vietnam. At this pace, we can expect the 2007 notebook market to clear 17 million units with ease."

There were no changes to the Top 5 PC vendor rankings in 2Q07. Market leader Lenovo's strong notebook growth in China helped the vendor to achieve double-digit growth rates both sequentially and year-on-year. HP's regional market share expanded to 16% in large part thanks to its focus on China, while Dell held onto its third place position. Acer stayed ahead of Founder in 2Q07, as the former vendor's robust growth in portables helped it to widen the regional lead it held over the latter.

Country Highlights
China's PC market grew 23% quarter-on-quarter in 2Q07 as vendors there prepared for the summer sales. Shipments from India's central purchasing government contract helped carry commercial PC shipments during the quarter, while SMB demand there was particularly strong in May. But shipments to Korea fell sequentially as commercial tenders got delayed and many consumers had already purchased PCs during the previous quarter.

Fortunately, consumer PC demand in Taiwan started to show gradual signs of recovery in 2Q07, and the IT show held in Taipei also helped to boost sales. Thailand's political situation also started to exhibit small signs of optimism as provincial governments started spending new budgets, although IDC retains its wild card stance for the time being.

"Singapore's PC market fell compared to 1Q07 following the drop-off in large affinity deals. The PC show in May/June was also less successful than the IT show in 1Q07, and university portable PC fulfillments were delayed to the third quarter," said Reuben Tan, Research Manager of Asia/Pacific Personal Systems Research at IDC. "Nonetheless, the overall market still grew by a robust 19% year-on-year, helped by the iDA tender and sales to the private sector."

Kathy Sin, Research Manager of Asia/Pacific Personal Systems Research at IDC, said, "Hong Kong's PC market propped itself up nicely in 2Q07 following a recovery in the portable PC market with 22% quarter-on-quarter growth as some vendors' supply and channel issues were resolved. This helped Hong Kong's total PC market expand by 17% quarter-on-quarter."



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