Worldwide PC sales log 12% rise in Q3

Shipments of personal computers rose 12%, driven by strong corporate demand and strong sales in Europe, West Asia & Africa.

Shipments of personal computers in the third quarter rose 12 per cent, driven by strong corporate demand and ongoing strength in Europe, West Asia and Africa, a market research firm said on Monday.

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Total shipments of PCs were 44.2 million in the third quarter, about 0.5 per cent ahead of forecast, according to IDC's Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker.

"We actually raised our forecast after the last quarter, so to be a little ahead of that is a positive note for the market," said IDC analyst Loren Loverde.

IDC said that although strong third-quarter growth in 2003 made for a tough comparison to this year's third quarter, year-on-year growth was slightly ahead of expectations, adding that it showed the ongoing strength of corporate shipments carrying into the fourth quarter.

Good growth in notebook shipments during the back-to-school season coupled with desktop replacements among businesses and consumers sustained another strong quarter in Europe, West Asia and Africa, IDC said.

The reasonably upbeat quarterly shipment figures come as microprocessor maker Intel Corp and other chipmakers have signaled slower-than-expected growth and rising inventories.

"Despite rumblings in the supply chain, Intel's inventory problem and isolated warnings by various companies, the market appears to have been driven by larger factors," said IDC analyst Roger Kay.

Rival market research firm Gartner Inc also on Monday released third-quarter PC shipments estimates that were not as rosy as IDC's. The two firms use different methodologies to gauge market growth.