Worldwide PC shipments will grow 3% in 2002 to 125.5m units, faster
than previous estimates of 1.8% growth, according to market
researcher IDC.
All regions except Asia-Pacific saw faster sales growth than
expected in the fourth quarter, and economic indicators in the key
US market have finally begun to point consistently to a recovery,
IDC said.
The research company said that several trends in the fourth quarter
of 2001 pointed to a PC sales recovery. These included:
- In Europe, sales of commercial desktop and consumer portables
picked up in the fourth quarter and are expected to continue
growing in 2002
- China, which now accounts for 42% of PC shipments in
Asia-Pacific excluding Japan, grew at 7.8% in the fourth quarter
and is expected to continue to drive growth in the region in
2002
In the US, consumer demand should recover through 2002 along with
most commercial segments, IDC said, although the education market
will remain weak throughout the year.
The recovery in western Europe is expected to be slower than in the
US because of reserved commercial spending and because the slowdown
in 2001 was less dramatic.
Japan remains one of the weakest markets and overall PC shipments
in Japan will see a double-digit decline in the first half of 2002
and commercial market shipments will barely show positive growth,
even by the fourth quarter. Government spending will be the key to
PC sales growth in Asia-Pacific, and consumer growth should recover
to solid double-digit growth in the second half of the year, IDC
said.
In 2001, worldwide PC shipments fell 5.2% below their 2000 level of
128.5m units. This year's 3% growth will be followed by a sales
jump of 10.9% in 2003, when worldwide PC shipments will reach
139.2m units, according to IDC.