PC shipments to halt fall in 2019 after 12-yr decline

The global PC market will enjoy a small recovery next year, after suffering declines since 2012, the latest report by Canalys reported. A softer decline in 2018 will make way for a rise of 0.3 percent for shipments, buoyed by the Windows 10 refresh, strong business spend in the US, less component supply constraints and to push to upgrade amid heightened IT security concerns. PCs here are made up of desktops, notebooks and two-in-ones.

The driver of growth will be APAC, as the industry turns to the region to compensate for the falling demand in Europe and China. PC shipments to Asia Pacific will likely pass those to Western Europe by 2021. A Canalys survey of channel partners highlights optimism in Asia, with 44 percent of APAC-based respondents saying they expect to see PC shipment growth in 2019, against 36 percent of respondents from EMEA. 

Shipments for APAC are expected to lift 0.9 percent in 2019 from the year before to 45.7 million, They are seen growing in North America, up 0.5 percent to 70.6 million. By Contrast, they will slide 0.8 percent in Western Europe to 46.1 million, decrease 0.5 percent in Greater China to 51.6 million and go 0.4 percent lower in Latin America to 21.8 million.