Subscribe For Free
FOLLOW US

Global PC shipments to grow 8pc in 2021, says Canalys

Paul Lipscombe
March 5, 2021

Demand for PCs remain high as remote working continues this year

The global PC market is set to grow eight per cent in 2021 with shipments to reach close to 500 million units, according to Canalys.

This is despite worsening component shortages, as demand for desktops, notebooks and tablets remains high due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Canalys predicts that shipments will hit 496.8 million units this year, up from 458.5m in 2020.

The growth for 2021 is expected to arrive in first half of the year, with shipments predicted to be up 54pc in Q1 and seven per cent in Q2.

Chromebooks and tablets are set to grow to 30pc and eight per cent respectively this year.

Looking further ahead Canalys expect PC shipments to grow an additional 2.5 per cent in 2022.

Canalys research director Rushabh Doshi said: “Following the boom in 2020, the PC industry is set to grow for years to come.

“Order backlogs and ongoing strong demand present a great short-term opportunity, while the ballooned installed base of PC users presents significant future opportunities for refreshes and upgrades.”

Components caution

However Doshi is cautious to not get too carried away, amid supply and distribution of components.

Canalys expects that key components such as GPUs and other smaller chips that drive PC internals, will face a squeeze for most of 2021 and well into 2022. This is expected to leave a “significant amount of demand unfulfilled”.

Doshi adds: “Competition for components from the automotive, smart manufacturing and smart IoT industries will also put pressure on PC vendors, which will see their prioritization fall.

“Logistics and transportation are also a limiting factor in meeting demand, with vendors turning to more expensive air freight to help cut delivery times. If the industry can overcome these persistent issues, we could see higher growth levels.”

Share this article

We use cookies to study how our website is being used. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.