HP clings onto top spot in PC market

IDC reveals that fourth quarter shipments in EMEA have beaten the past five quarters

HP is still leading the PC market pack according to IDC’s latest figures, with Dell breathing hot on its heels.

Global PC shipments grew by 15.5 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2007 according to IDC’s Worldwide quarterly PC Tracker, but EMEA was the star performer, with shipments outpacing growth in the past five quarters, peaking at 20 per cent. The US market also saw an 8.8 per cent rise.

In vendor terms, Acer experienced the strongest growth spurt for Q4, seeing shipments increase 60 per cent from a year ago, partly because of the integration of Gateway, but also due to its ongoing expansion across different regions. HP saw growth of 23.3 per cent with Lenovo in third place at 22.3 per cent. In growth terms, Dell came fifth with 17.1 per cent, beaten by Toshiba's 19 per cent growth.

For the full year 2007, total PC shipments reached 269 million units, with overall growth of 14.3 per cent. HP took the top spot for the year, shifting over 50.5 million units and a market share of 18.8 per cent, with Dell in overall second place, shipping 40 million, with market share of 14.9 per cent. Acer moved into third position with 7.9 per cent market share and over 21 million units sold, followed by Lenovo with 7.5 per cent market share and 20.2 million shipments and Toshiba in fifth with 4.1 per cent market share and 10.9 million shipments.

Loren Loverde, director of IDC’s Quarterly PC Tracker, said: “Fourth quarter results show a very healthy PC market. There is a lot happening with vendors repositioning their channels and going after new markets while falling prices and portable adoption continue to drive volume.

"Despite fourth quarter strength, projections for the next couple of years anticipate slower growth. Rising concerns about economic growth are likely to reduce expectations further, although we’re still likely to see double digit growth through 2008 and probably 2009.”