Global Shipments of Personal Computers Drop by 29%

Global shipments of personal computers (PCs) have dropped by 29% in the first quarter of 2023 due to weak demand, excess inventory and a deteriorating macroeconomic climate.

Apple Inc. takes the largest hit, according to market research firm, International Data Corporation, IDC.

In the report published Sunday, the IDC said global PC shipments numbered 56.9 million in the first quarter of 2023, down from 80.2 million in the same period last year (2022).

The shipments extended a similar year-on-year decline of 28.1% in the last quarter of 2022.

Of the top five PC companies analysed in the report, Apple’s Q1 shipments saw the largest drop of 40.5% from the same period in 2022, with Dell Technologies Inc coming in second with a drop of 31%.

Lenovo Group Ltd, Asustek Computer Inc and HP Inc also faced declines in shipments, the IDC said.

In February, Apple reported that sales of its Mac computers, which had boomed during the wave of working from home during the pandemic, declined 29% YoY to $7.7 billion in their most recent quarter.

Concerns over slowdowns in major economies remain, with recent tumult in the banking sector exacerbating worries that runaway inflation and tight monetary policy would hamper growth and financial investments.

Reuters/Hauwa Abu