TheBrief GLOBAL PC SHIPMENTS ARE THE LARGEST SINCE 2012, DESPITE CHIP SHORTAGE

DESPITE chip shortage and supply chain constraints, global PC shipments (desktops, notebooks and workstations) reached 341 million units in 2021 – 15 percent higher than 2020 and the largest shipment total since 2012, a new report showed yesterday In the fourth quarter (Q4), shipments exceeded 90 million for the second year in a row. The latest Canalys data shows that worldwide shipments of desktops, notebooks and workstations grew 1 percent (year-on-year) to 92 million units in Q4, more than 91 million a year ago. The industry saw strong revenue gains, with the total value of Q4 shipments estimated at $70 billion (about R1.09 trillion), an annual increase of 11 percent over Q4 2020. For the full year, revenue passed $250bn in 2021 against $220bn in 2020, up 15 percent, highlighting the seismic transformation in the industry. “For the market to post double-digit growth over an impressive 2020, despite the constant cloud of supply constraints, speaks volumes about how strong PC demand has been over the last 12 months,” said Ishan Dutt, a senior analyst at Canalys. Notebooks and mobile workstations continued to lead the charge, with shipments growing 16 percent in 2021 to reach 275 million units. Desktop and desktop workstation shipments increased 7 percent in 2021 to reach 66 million units. Lenovo took first place in the PC market in Q4 with total shipments of 21.7 million units, an annual decline of 6.5 percent. It was also the biggest shipping vendor for full-year 2021, hitting a record 82.1 million units. | IANS