Pre-price hike buying and inventory build-up ahead of the festive season support market growth, IDC says
India’s personal computer (PC) shipments rose 12.1 per cent year-on-year to 3.9 million units in the June quarter, supported by early purchases ahead of expected price increases and higher channel inventory, according to IDC. Commercial shipments grew 16.6 per cent to 2.2 million units, while consumer shipments increased 6.6 per cent to 1.7 million units during the quarter.
PC makers have been facing higher costs for key components, particularly memory. Retailers and online sellers responded by building inventory ahead of expected price increases, while also preparing for Independence Day and the upcoming festive-season sales, IDC said.
“Despite signs of moderating end-user demand, channel partners and e-tailers continued to build up inventory aggressively through the quarter,” said Bharath Shenoy, research manager, Devices Research, IDC.
Notebooks remained the largest contributor to growth, with shipments increasing 14 per cent year-on-year. Workstation shipments rose 11.2 per cent, while desktop shipments returned to growth, increasing 7.7 per cent. The premium segment recorded stronger growth during the quarter. Shipments of notebooks priced above $1,000 increased 78.7 per cent, while AI-enabled notebook shipments more than doubled, rising 109.9 per cent.
HP continued to lead the Indian PC market with a 29.4 per cent share, followed by Lenovo at 20.3 per cent and Acer at 14.8 per cent. Dell recorded the fastest growth among the top five vendors, with shipments rising 40.3 per cent and its market share reaching 14.1 per cent. Apple’s shipments increased 89 per cent year-on-year. IDC attributed the growth partly to the MacBook Neo, launched towards the end of the March quarter, along with improved availability and relatively competitive pricing.
The strong June-quarter performance could create a tougher environment for PC sales in the coming quarters. Purchases brought forward ahead of price increases may reduce demand later, while higher prices could lead some consumers to defer upgrades.
IDC expects consumer demand to moderate in the second half of the year, while commercial demand is likely to remain broadly flat. Retailers are also expected to focus on clearing inventory accumulated in recent quarters before placing fresh orders.
The market could come under greater pressure from the fourth quarter, with enterprise buying expected to normalise and higher prices potentially delaying purchases by small businesses into 2027.
