China surpasses the United States to become largest PC market


PC shipments in the China market have exceeded those of
the United States in the second quarter of 2011 (2Q11).


Approximately 18.5 million units worth US$11.9 billion
shipped in China during the quarter, compared to 17.7 million units worth
US$11.7 billion in the U.S. China represented 22 percent of the global PC
market’s unit shipments compared to the US at 21 percent.


On a full year basis, IDC still expects the U.S. to
remain the largest market in 2011, with 73.5 million units forecast to be
shipped in the U.S. versus 72.4 million in China.


Similarly, holiday season buying in the U.S. will likely
keep it ahead of China in the fourth quarter, especially as China’s market
contracts after its third quarter summer promotions. IDC does not expect China
to exceed the U.S. in full year shipments until 2012, when 85.2 million units
are forecast to be shipped in China and 76.6 million units in the U.S.


“There are of course still risks ahead for China,
including not just inflation but also the impact of economic conditions in the
U.S. and Europe. But in the meantime, the Chinese government’s 12th Five-Year
Plan should help large enterprises in various infrastructure verticals to
continue to move along, not to mention of course the ongoing efforts to
increase consumer penetration in lower-tier cities,” said Kitty Fok, vice
president for Greater China Research at IDC.   


“China’s lead in the PC market is a huge shift that
reflects the rising fortunes of emerging markets as well as the relative
stagnation of more mature regions. While the immediate economic circumstances
in the US and other markets had a significant impact on the timing of China’s
move to the lead, they have not changed the trend, but accelerated it,”
said Loren Loverde, program vice president, Worldwide PC Tracker.  


IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker gathers PC market
data in over 80 countries by vendor, form factor, brand, processor brand and
speed, sales channel and user segment. The research includes historical and
forecast trend analysis as well as price band and installed base data.


By Telecomlead.com Team
[email protected]