Asia-Pacific computer sales excluding Japan rose 13.8% to 33.1 million in 2004, with a similarly strong performance expected this year, according to a March 9 Gartner report. For 2005, the U.S. technology analyst firm said computer sales were forecast to grow 12.7% to 37.3 million.
"Demand (last year) was exceptionally strong from the professional market where replacement as well as expansionary demand drove shipments," Gartner analyst Lillian Tay said. "This was assisted by the better economic situation as well as the need to replace aging PCs (personal computers)."
Desktop PC shipments increased 10.4% in 2004 and are expected to improve further with growth of 10.8% this year, boosted by strong demand in China, India, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, Gartner said. Notebook or mobile PCs should grow 21.3% after 31.3% last year.
China recorded the biggest sales last year with 14.93 million, up 14.9% from 2003. India was a distant second with 3.39 million, a rise of 34.4%, followed by Australia with sales up 14.7% to 3.29 million. South Korea was the fourth biggest market with sales of 3.27 million, a decline of 0.7%, followed by Taiwan where shipments rose 3.6% to 2.41 million. Hong Kong was the ninth largest market with sales 11.7% higher at 661,000.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2005
