H/w market on a rebound

NEW DELHI, INDIA: MAIT, the apex body representing the hardware, training and R&D services sectors of the IT industry in the country, announced the findings of its Quarterly Industry Performance Review for the quarter October-December (OND) of fiscal 2009-10.

The total PC sales between October and December 2009, with desktop computers, notebooks and netbooks together, were 2 million (20 lakh) units, registering a growth of 42 per cent over the same period last Fiscal. The sales of desktops stood at 1.35 million (13.5 lakh) units, while netbooks and notebooks taken together recorded a consumption of 0.66 million (6.6 lakh) units growing 27 per cent and 90 per cent respectively, on a year-on-year basis.

Commenting on the industry performance, Vinnie Mehta, MAIT Executive Director, said: "The impact of the global economic recession is now well behind us and the IT hardware industry in India is once again on a growth path. All segments of the IT hardware industry - computers, peripherals and networking products recorded impressive growth in the Q3/2009-10 over the same period last year. The corporate sector, which had displayed significant caution in IT-spending over the past five quarters, led the growth in consumption in the OND quarter. Among the verticals, consumption in the IT market was led by telecom, banking, education, SMEs, BPO/IT-enabled services and the e-governance initiatives of the Centre and the state government. Vibrancy in consumption in households and smaller towns was also visible in the quarter. The industry is hopeful that the sales would further improve in the fourth (January-March) quarter. Overall PC sales for 2009-10 are expected to cross 7.3 million (73 lakh) units, registering a 7 per cent annual growth."

As per the MAIT-IMRB study, the assembled desktops - the smaller lesser known regional brands and unbranded systems, accounted for thirty-five per cent of the desktop sales in Q3/2009-10, while the proportion of the branded desktops was 65 per cent. MNC brands accounted for 52 per cent of the market, while the Indian brands accounted for the rest 13 per cent.