HindustanTimes.com

Tuesday, July 22, 2003

Asia-Pacific second quarter PC sales up 12%

Agence France-Presse
Singapore, July 21

Sales of personal computers in the Asia-Pacific market excluding Japan rose
12 per cent in the second quarter from a year earlier despite SARS, a
technology research firm said on Monday.

The quarter got off to a rough start due to the impact of SARS on the retail
markets of China, Singapore and Hong Kong, but sales surged after the
outbreak was contained in June due to stringent measures taken by
governments, International Data Corp (IDC) said.

Preliminary results showed 6.5 million units were sold in the three months
ended June.

"SARS did not scar the Asian PC market as deeply as it could have during the
quarter," IDC senior research manager Bryan Ma said in a press statement.
"We can breathe a sigh of relief, though the slow global economy remains a
key barrier to a more significant recovery in the market."

Nearly all countries in the region reported an increase in sales compared
with last year.

The PC market in Thailand received a boost after a price war between local
vendors erupted in response to the government's initiative to bring cheaper
PCs to the masses.

PC sales were also up in Australia, but the market in South Korea remained
plagued by lower consumer spending.

IDC expects the second half of the year to be "slightly softer than
initially expected", amid fears that SARS could return during winter.

However, IDC believes the impact of a resurgence of SARS will not be as
severe since governments and consumers are better prepared.

The weak global economy remains the biggest challenge for long-term market
recovery, it said.

© Hindustan Times Ltd. 2003.
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without prior permission