While covid-19 has affected the supply chain of notebook PCs in China due to temporary shutdowns, it has also boosted the remote work and education demand, according to Taiwanese government think tank and IT research institute MIC (Market Intelligence & Consulting Institute). The report also shows that, despite the fact that major PC manufacturers managed to resume production capacity by more than 90 percent at the end of March, the increase in demand for notebook PCs put a strain on supplies in the first quarter of 2020.
Report authors claim the rebound in laptop demand may not be enough to cover the loss from both the consumer and business sectors due to more conservative spending behavior during the pandemic period in the first half of the year. With uncertain demand in the second half of the year, the global notebook shipment volume is forecast to still decline 4.6 percent year-on-year in 2020, reaching 153.5 million units.
Due to the relatively low base in 2020 and the anticipated boost in consumption after a period of more conservative spending behavior this year, the global notebook PC shipments are anticipated to grow 4.9 percent year-on-year in 2021.
