Asia Pacific PC Shipments Bounce Back in Q1, Dataquest Says
July 7, 1999 (HONG KONG) -- Personal computer shipments in the Asia Pacific region reached about 2.8 million units in the first quarter of 1999, according to market research firm Dataquest Inc.
That's up 19 percent over the same period in 1998.
Lillian Tay, senior analyst for Dataquest's Personal Computer Quarterly Statistics Asia Pacific program, noted that many countries' tight government fiscal policies are a driving force in the economic recovery for the Asia Pacific region. A combination of lower-cost products and a stabilization of exchange rates have brought back consumer demand for the PC.
China led the region in terms of units. However, Indonesia grew 99 percent compared to the first quarter of 1998. This is an indication that one of the worst-hit countries in the region is on the return.
The top five countries and regions -- China, Australia, Korea, Taiwan and India -- made up more than 80 percent of the total volume of Asia Pacific shipments (see Table).
Compaq Computer Corp. was the number one vendor in the region for the first quarter of 1999, outstretching IBM Corp. from its fourth quarter 1998 takeover of the top position. The top five were rounded out with Samsung Group, Acer Group and Legend Group.
According to Dataquest, with encouraging signs of unit shipments up by 19 percent, vendor revenue was also up by 19 percent. Stability in foreign exchange rates across the region, increase in investment, and general positive economic conditions have lifted the region to almost pre-crash days, which maintained shipment and revenue growth to the same level.
Table: Asia Pacific PC Shipments for 1Q of 1999 (Actual Units) (Data excluding Japan)
Country
Q1/98 Shipments
Q1/99 Shipments
Growth (%)
China
597,209
887,013
49
Australia
466,268
511,155
10
Korea
338,831
421,815
24
Taiwan
159,488
219,777
38
India
119,771
152,994
28
Singapore
103,350
93,380
-9
Hong Kong
83,865
92,856
11
Malaysia
63,700
67,367
6
New Zealand
NA
63,970
NA
Indonesia
27,593
54,905
99
Philippines
NA
53,000
NA
Thailand
45,711
51,966
14
Vietnam
NA
26,236
NA
Rest of Asia Pacific
274,761
19,201
-93
Total Region
2,280,547
2,716,194
19
Source: Dataquest (June 1999)
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