EMEA PC market grows for three straight quarters

Windows XP effect underpins 9.6 per cent rise in shipments in Q3

The EMEA PC market's comeback story has continued after shipments leapt by nearly 10 per cent in the third quarter.

According to Gartner, unit sales jumped 9.6 per cent year on year to 24 million in the three months to 30 September, marking the third consecutive quarter of growth.

The market watcher attributed this to the end of official support for Windows XP, and the need to replace older PCs.

Last week Microsoft unveiled Windows 10, which it hopes will convert more customers from older operating systems.

Ranjit Atwal, research director at Gartner, said: "Consumer demand has also improved. We've witnessed lower notebook prices and promotional offers on two-in-one hybrid devices attracting buyers back. Many tablet early-adopters are considering a hybrid two-in-one product as a viable alternative to a replacement tablet."

HP clung onto the number one spot in the region, with a 20.9 per cent market share, but Lenovo is now breathing down its neck on 19.3 points following nine consecutive quarters of double-digit growth. Its EMEA progress allowed Lenovo to extend its global lead during the quarter to 19.8 points, ahead of HP on 17.9 per cent share and Dell on 12.8 per cent, Gartner said.

Despite the continued growth in EMEA, globally the market saw a year on year decline of 0.5 per cent with 79.4 million units shipped in Q3 2014, according to the research house.

Mikako Kitagawa, principal analyst at Gartner, said: "Growth in the mature markets was offset by a decline in shipments in emerging markets; similar to what was seen in the second quarter of 2014. Positive results in Western Europe and North America can be a sign of gradual recovery for the PC industry."