PC sales still growing despite chip shortage

Predictions that the PC sales surge will run out of steam due to the chip shortage and the winding down of lockdowns seem to be about as accurate as a UK government assessment of the impact of Brexit.

Figures in from IDC found that the global PC market continued to gain momentum in the second quarter, despite ongoing component shortages and logistics issues.

Figures from IDC found that global shipments grew 13.2 percent in the second quarter of 2020, reaching 83.6 million units.

IDC research manager for IDC’s Mobile and Consumer Device Trackers Jitesh Ubrani said: “The PC market’s hot streak continued to drive heavy investments from the supply side including the entry of new vendors as well as additional spend from underdogs.

“And while the top five continue to drive volume, the smaller vendors have helped drive growth by offering unique features or niche designs.”

The analyst added that, though annual growth remains quite high, it has begun to taper off as the 13 percent growth rate in the second quarter is lower than the 55.9 percent spike in the first quarter and 25.8 per cent increase in the fourth quarter of 2020.

IDC previously said it expected the market to see double-digit growth of 18.1 percent in 2021, with shipments reaching more than 357 million units.

It claimed demand will start to drop by 2022.

Lenovo outweighed the top-performing companies with second quarter shipments clocking in at 20 million, jumping 14.9 percent on the same quarter last year.

HP came in second with shipments reaching 18 million units, a year on year growth of just 2.7 percent.