Fourth quarter PC sales in the Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region rose by 17% to 17 million units, according to international research firm Gartner.
Gartner says Germany remains the largest EMEA market, with Spain and Russia recording the strongest growth.
Ranjit Atwal, an analyst with Gartner`s PC hardware group in Europe, says: "The fourth quarter was exceptionally strong, with growth in the professional notebook and desk-based markets leading the way. The anticipated replacement cycle of desk-based PCs purchased in 1999 and 2000 is beginning to materialise, with many large businesses taking advantage of the low dollar valuation. As a result, PC shipments in the professional segment grew 19.5%, beating the consumer segment by four percentage points."
According to Gartner, Acer, Fujitsu Siemens and IBM recorded the highest growth rates in the fourth quarter. Many regional and smaller PC assemblers struggled to defend their positions, both as a result of continued price erosion and shortages of key notebook PC components like LCD panels.
Acer makes biggest share gains
The biggest share gains came from Acer, who became the number one commercial mobile PC vendor in EMEA in the fourth quarter of 2003. Its immense growth of 76% was largely driven by mobile PCs in Western Europe. The Acer and Dell gains did not come at the expense of Hewlett Packard, which managed to hold its market share flat despite the Compaq merger.
Gartner says the leading international vendors outgrew the market in 2003. This resulted in share loss amongst local vendors, increasing the likelihood of consolidation during 2004. The percentage growth in the EMEA PC market more than doubled in 2003 compared to 2002, which recorded a six percent growth. The growth was fuelled by the resurgence of PC replacements in the business segment and the low dollar valuation.
"The strong growth seen in the second half of the year is expected to continue in EMEA into 2004. At a worldwide level, our new forecasts predict that the PC market will reach 187 million units in 2004, a 13.9% increase from 2003. We expect the market to experience double-digit growth during all four quarters in 2004," Atwal says.
All regions report good growth
The biggest share gains came from Acer, who became the number one commercial mobile PC vendor in EMEA in the fourth quarter of 2003.
Paul Vecchiatto, journalist, ITWebCape Town
In last quarter of 2003, all three Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA) regions recorded double-digit shipment growth. Italy and Russia performed particularly well, both reaching new milestones by exceeding one million unit shipments for the first time in history. Russia is now the fourth largest PC market in EMEA after Germany, the UK and France.
The Netherlands reported its highest growth level for two years in quarter four, driven by fiscal changes to its 'PC Prive` employee purchase schemes. In France, much of the growth came from a late pick up on mobile PCs compared to the rest of Europe.
Meanwhile, Spain benefited from tax incentives in the small and medium business (SMB) market to purchase PCs, as well as a euro 1000 million project driven by the Minister of Science to promote PC penetration and Internet usage.
The UK PC market saw one of the weakest consumer markets. Most of the 14% growth was generated from the professional market, marked by a clear pick up in the corporate reseller channel. Germany remained the leading country in the EMEA PC market, but had a tough year, reflected in its negative growth of three percent in the desk based market. However, the German PC market saw some recovery following a positive fourth quarter, with the business segment seeing the start of an investment cycle delayed by six months compared to the UK.
Digital content drive growth
Driven by continuing strong demand in the consumer segment, the worldwide PC market is forecast to reach 44 million units in the first quarter of 2004, a 13.3% increase over the first quarter of 2003, according to a preliminary forecast by Gartner.
Its analysts say expanding mobile technologies are persuading many consumers to purchase new equipment.
George Shiffler, principal analyst for Gartner`s computing platforms and economics research says: "The explosion of digital content devices and creation tools will help drive PC sales in the home market."
For the year 2004, PC shipments are expected to top 187 million units, a 13.9 percent increase from 2003 shipments. The worldwide PC market is forecast to experience double-digit growth all four quarters in 2004. PC vendors can anticipate stronger growth in the business segment in 2004, especially in the United States.
Gartner analysts say strong business growth in Western Europe can be attributed to depreciation of the US dollar against the Euro, which is giving greater spending power to Eurozone businesses.
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