PC shipments up in Asia

Despite current economic conditions, the PC industry in Asia posted growth during the third quarter, new figures from research analyst IDC shows.

In statement Monday, IDC said the region's PC shipments between July and September grew 11.9 percent year-on-year to reach a record 20.2 million units. The Q3 units also represented a 9 percent growth over the previous quarter.

IDC noted, however, that the region's growth fell short of its forecast by 2 percent.

Portable PCs, and in particular small form-factor notebooks, were the key driver of growth across the region, according to IDC. Nearly every Asian economy posted double-digit year-on-year growth for portable PCs, it said. The analyst was unable to immediately provide the breakdown, by units, of desktops and laptops shipped in Asia.

While there was no significant slowdown in recent weeks, demand had been "a bit soft" due to the ongoing economic conditions, Bryan Ma, IDC's director for Asia-Pacific personal systems research, said in the statement.

PC demand in Asia, added Ma, could be pinched in the upcoming quarters but the impact is not likely to be cause for worry. "IDC believes that domestic demand in key markets like China will continue to help carry the markets next year, even if not as dramatically as before," he said.

Asus gains market share
Lenovo once again emerged as the top PC vendor in Asia, with market share of 18.9 percent in the third-quarter. Hewlett-Packard and Dell were ranked second and third, with market shares of 14.5 percent and 9 percent, respectively.

With a growth of 67 percent over the second quarter, Asus was a big winner in Q3, reported IDC. The Taiwanese PC maker, which also between July and September registered a nearly 100 percent unit growth over the same period in 2007, edged out Chinese vendor Founder for fifth spot in total shipments, and recorded a market share of 4.7 percent.

Acer took fourth spot, with a 7.8 percent share of the Asian market.