As a result of weak demand and supply chain disruption, global shipments of notebook computers are likely to increase by only 5.8 percent to 210 million units this year, following 20.1 percent growth last year, a Digitimes Research report showed yesterday.
This year’s shipment growth will mark the first time for years that the notebook industry has registered single-digit annual growth, Digitimes Reseach said.
The notebook PC industry has already experienced three consecutive quarters of lackluster performance since the third quarter of last year and the weakening momentum is likely to continue in the current quarter, Joanne Chien (簡佩萍), a senior analyst at Digitimes Research, said in the report.
“Coupled with shortages of components, such as ICs for optical drives and hard drives, triggered by Japan’s earthquake on March 11, Taiwanese notebook makers are expected to see a 2.1 percent decline in shipments in the second quarter from a year ago, while global shipments will increase only 3.7 percent year-on-year,” Chien said in an e-mailed statement.
On a quarterly basis, Taiwanese makers’ notebook shipments are expected to rise 6.1 percent from the first quarter, while global shipments will increase 8.8 percent from the previous quarter, she said.
Apple Inc, Asustek Computer Inc (華碩) and Acer Inc (宏碁) will be the top-three PC brands to show increased notebook shipments in the second quarter, the report said, as Apple will benefit from its new MacBook Pro notebooks, while Asustek and Acer would see smooth inventory digestion and new product launches.
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