PC sales expected to be around 12.11 mn units in FY 2013-14

NEW DELHI, INDIA: MAIT, the apex body representing India's IT hardware, training and R&D services sectors, today announced the findings of its Industry Performance Review for the financial year 2012-13.

The annual MAIT Industry Performance Review - ITOPs, conducted by India's leading market research firm IMRB International, is a survey of the IT hardware sector's efforts to manage the business environment, gauge the market potential and consumer trends.

Key highlights of the study:

* The total PC sales between April 2012 and March 2013, combining desktop computers, notebooks and netbooks were at 11.31million (113.1 lakh) units, registering a growth of five per cent over the last fiscal.

* Internet penetration in the 22 cities was 65 percent among businesses and 35 percent among households.

* The sales of desktops stood at 6.77 million (67.7 lakh) units registering a growth of one per cent. Notebooks and Netbooks taken together recorded a consumption of 4.41 million (44.1 lakh) units, growing ten per cent over the last year.

* PC sales are expected to be around 12.11 million (121.1 lakh) units in FY 2013-14, a growth rate of eight per cent.

* Tablets are cannibalizing the PC market and registering a phenomenal growth of 424 percent in the 2nd consecutive year.

Commenting on the industry performance, J V Ramamurthy, president, MAIT, said: "The overall IT Hardware Industry scenario seems to be on a conservative side with most of the markets posting either a muted growth or decline. The year 2012-13 has been the year for Tablet PC with consumers preferring Tablet over PC as their replacement."

"The combination of basic functioning of a PC coupled with affordability is turning the tide favourably towards Tablet PC. That said, the SEC C Households which made a significant contribution last year for PC continues to put on a strong show registering an impressive growth of 67 percent. The industry is hopeful that the overall PC sales for 2013-14 will reach around 12.11 million units, registering a modest growth of 8 percent," added Ramamurthy.

While Anwar Shirpurwala, ED, MAIT said, "The overall growth of the Tablet industry is impressive, however, the decline in the growth of PC is a matter of concern which is growing by only 5 percent but it is also a reality. The growth of PC industry is crucial, as the country still has very low PC penetration."