Commercial Replacement Demand Keeps Upholding Global PC Shipments in 2014, Especially for Desktop PCs

Shipment volume of global PC systems - comprising of notebook PCs and desktop PCs - is forecast to reach around 299 million units in 2014, down 0.1% year-on-year, according to new report.

The global PC industry has been bolstered mainly by the PC replacement demand in the commercial market in 2014. Looking at the performance by sector, with the majority of desktop PCs shipped being commercial ones, desktop PCs have played a significant role to bolster global PC shipments in 2014. Global desktop PC shipment volume is estimated at 130 million units in 2014, up 3.1% year-on-year. Though continuing eroded by tablets, the notebook PC industry has seen its shipment decline slow in 2014. The notebook PC shipment volume is anticipated to top around 168 million units, down 2.5% year-on-year. Notebook PCs' share of total PC products is expected to slip to 56.2% in 2014, down from 57.6% in 2013.

"Commercial models have become the major engine of growth for the PC market in the wake of Microsoft's decision to end its support for Windows XP and reduce royalties for new software" said the analyst. Among other things, major brands' support to launch Microsoft-powered notebook PCs priced at US$249 has also help stimulated the demand for low-cost notebook PCs. The global PC market has performed better than expected in 2014 by far.

Desktop PC Industry to Witness over 10% Growth; Notebook PC Industry to Decline 6.2% in 2014

Research estimates Taiwan's desktop PC shipments will top around 67 million units in 2014, up 12.1% year-on-year, driven mainly by the continued demand for commercial models and the rollout of new Intel and AMD processors. "With cost and technology advantages in contract manufacturing AIO PCs and commercial desktop PCs, as well as the close partnerships with major brands, Taiwan's desktop PC industry will see the increase in shipments due to a rise in demand from the commercial market sector.

Meanwhile, shipments of Taiwan's notebook PC industry also lived up to expectations in the first half of 2014, thanks mainly to the emerging replacement demand for commercial models and the release of low-cost models. Although the demand for low-cost notebook PCs will be unleashed in the second half of 2014, the industry is estimated to still see a 6.2% year-on-year decline in 2014, with around 140 million notebook PCs being shipped.

Furthermore, Taiwanese notebook PC makers' global share is expected to be reduced considerably in view of several detrimental factors in 2015, especially the volume of excess capacity to be added to the market by Chinese LCMC, said Chou.

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