IDC: PC slump not as bad as feared

Global shipments fell by 3.1 per cent in Q2, much better than the 6.3 per cent contraction predicted

68.4 million PCs were shipped in the second quarter

The global PC slump has not been as bad as first feared, second-quarter IDC numbers reveal.

According to the number cruncher, worldwide desktop and laptop shipments fell by 3.1 per cent to 68.4 million in the three months to June, on an annual comparison. That is much better than the expected decline of 6.3 per cent.

All regions met or surpassed expectations. While EMEA contracted for a second consecutive quarter, the portable PC market beat forecasts, maintaining single-digit growth thanks to strong netbook sales and momentum generated by the telecoms channel.

“These results are a very positive indicator for the second half of the year,” said Loren Loverde, program director for IDC's Tracker Program.

Loverde added that the expected return to growth by year end would be supported by new product launches and improvements in the economy.

But she cautioned that growth would be driven solely by the consumer market.

“The market continues to rely on consumer purchases, with a substantial weakness in the commercial space,” she said. “We expect to see more of the same as we enter the busy shopping season of the second half of the year. In the longer term, an expected recovery in the commercial segment should boost growth in 2011."

Dell was the only top-five vendor to suffer year-on-year shipment declines, as unit sales dropped 17.1 per cent to 11 million. HP increased its market share lead from 18.5 to 19.8 per cent after growing shipments by 3.6 per cent. Third-placed Acer grew share from 10 to 12.7 per cent, Lenovo from 8.2 to 8.7 per cent and Toshiba from 4.6 to 5.3 per cent.