Currency volatility in India brings down PC shipments in APAC

NEW DELHI: PC shipments in Asia Pacific (APAC) fell by over 11 per cent to 28.1 million units in the July-September quarter this year due to currency volatilities, especially in India and Indonesia, research firm Gartner said.

"In Asia Pacific, PC shipments were at 28.1 million units in the third quarter of 2013, an 11.2 per cent decline from the third quarter of 2012. The region was hampered by the currency volatilities, especially in India and Indonesia, where currencies plunged to record lows," Gartner said.

Vendors were also mindful of Windows 8.1, new models based on Intel's Bay Trail, which will start shipping in the October-December quarter. Therefore, they were careful in managing inventory, it added.

Globally, PC shipments fell for the consecutive sixth quarter in a row.

"Worldwide PC shipments totalled 80.3 million units in the third quarter of 2013, an 8.6 per cent decline from the same period last year. This marks the sixth consecutive quarter of declining worldwide shipments," Gartner said.

Consumer's shift from PCs to tablets for daily content consumption continued to decrease the installed base of PCs, both in mature as well as emerging markets, Gartner Principal Analyst Mikako Kitagawa said.

"A greater availability of inexpensive Android tablets attracted first-time consumers in emerging markets, and as supplementary devices in mature markets," Kitagawa added.

Globally, Lenovo (17.6 per cent market share) took the lead, as it did last quarter, with Hewlett-Packard following at 17.1 per cent, but the upcoming holiday sales season will be a key battlefield for both companies, Gartner said.

Dell, Acer and Asus were at the third, fourth and fifth positions, respectively, it added.