Record-Breaking Growth Predicted For PC Market In Latin America

The PC market in Latin America continues to show solid growth, despite predictions of the PC's demise, according to consulting and research firm International Data Corp. (IDC), Framingham, Mass. IDC this week released forecasts predicting an annual growth rate of 30% for desktop and notebook shipments for yearend 2000. In the second quarter of this year, Argentina, Chile, and Mexico each showed yearly notebook shipment growth of 90% or more. "With the exception of Colombia, the notebook market is expected to remain strong for the rest of the year with forecasted annual growth of almost 50% from 1999," says Alexandra Martinez, senior PC analyst in IDC's Latin America office. One company that has enjoyed the growth is Acer Inc. It had a very successful quarter increasing unit shipments by 31% from the previous quarter and more than 91% from the same quarter, 1999. This was accomplished mainly by a concerted effort by Acer to push itself back into the retail channel. Although the increased marketing campaigns throughout Latin America appear to be having a positive effect, Acer still ships 59% of its desktop PCs to Mexico.