PC sales to grow 15 percent in 2012-13: MAIT

Driven by strong demand from consumer segment, PC sales in the country grew 16 per cent in 2011-12 at 10.8 million units over the same period last year, hardware industry body MAIT today said.

Though MAIT had projected a growth of 26 per cent for 2011-12, but factors like currency fluctuation, flood in Thailand (affecting supply of hard drives) and Tsunami in Japan pulled sales down by about a million units.

Sales of desktops accounted for 6.7 million units, a growth of 11 per cent, while notebooks and netbooks sales stood at 3.7 million units (up 26 per cent over 2010-11) and 0.28 million units (down 11 per cent).

"The industry experienced very nervous business environment in 2011-12. Problems like hard disk shortage and inflation accompanied rupee devaluation, which impacted the market. However, considering the above circumstances, the market has actually performed quite well," MAIT President Alok Bhardwaj told reporters here.

The consumer segment accounted for 56 per cent of the total sales, while the remaining 44 per cent was by enterprises.

"Last year, the market saw the surge in PC penetration in the household segment, with SEC C (socioeconomic classes) towns registering the highest growth of 45 per cent. The trend of households emerging as major drivers of the industry will continue," he said.

For FY13, MAIT estimates the PC sales to grow 15 per cent.

"The current economic slowdown is well reflected in the sentiments that we measured for 2012-13. The PC industry is expected to grow at 15 per cent to reach 12.4 million units in 2012-13. Some steps in macroeconomic drivers can push the growth to higher levels," Bharadwaj said.

Rising contribution of the SEC "C" segment and higher Internet and PC penetration in smaller towns may give desktops stronger traction, he added.

"Considering its multiplier effect on the economy and especially since a major growth is witnessed in the Class II and Class III towns, we strongly urge the Government to provide cheaper loans to common man so that PC and Internet penetration can be further increased and reduce the digital divide," MAIT Executive Director Sabyasachi Patra added.

MAIT is also undertaking a study on the tablet PC market to understand the demand and impact of the device on the Indian market as these computer like gadgets, especially those by domestic players, seem to be eating into the netbook market, he added.