According to figures released by the International Data Corp earlier this week, China has dethroned the US as the world’s largest market for PC computers. I guess it was expected after they passed the US in 2009 as the world’s largest auto market. People need mobility and information.
Anyway, IDC’s numbers say that second quarter PC shipments in China increased by 14%, to 18.5 million units, while shipments in the US dropped 4.8%, to 17.7 million units. And even though the number of shipments is considerably larger on the Chinese market (with almost one million extra units) value-wise the Chinese and US markets are relatively close.
The value of China’s computer shipments in the second quarter was $11.9 billion, while the value of the US shipments was $11.7 billion.
As far as global markets go, China now accounts for 22 percent of the global PC market by shipments – 1 percent more than the US.
“This was going to happen sooner or later, just like with the car market, and the time has come,” said Toshihiro Nagahama, chief economist at Dai-ichi Life Research Institute Inc. in Tokyo. “China has a huge population and their income is rising.” – bloomberg
However, despite China’s significant increase in market share in the second quarter, The International Data Corp believes the US will remain the biggest PC market throughout 2011 as a whole. And I think the biggest role in that will be played by AMD, with the release of their new Bulldozer CPU in September. A lot of US gamers have postponed the purchase of new systems in anticipation of the CPU, fact which could explain the slowdown of the US market.
PS: Hurry up and release those Bulldozers already, AMD! I had to buy an Intel thanks to your silly delays.
source bloomberg
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