GfK Asia releases its 2007 Mid- Year Pan Asian IT Retail Data Summary, which highlights the trends in the region's IT sector. The report contains detailed data from nine Asian countries showing mid-year figures for 2007 against the same period in 2006. GfK Asia's report shows continued growth in the region from January to June 2007 when compared to the same period last year.

The greatest percentage of growth for both volume and value in all categories was reported in portable PCs (43% / 31%). The lower growth in value, compared with volume, signals heavy price competition in the Asian markets. The lowest percentage of growth for both volume and value was seen in the printer (-6% / -5%) category, due to the continuing popularity of multifunctional devices (17% / 15%) which affected single function inkjet printer sales. Countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand are still showing positive growth for both single and multi-function printers, but this trend is not seen in developed Asian countries.

The largest number of units sold overall, excluding consumables, was in the category of personal computers (6,089,121), representing both desktop units (3,741061) and portable units (2,348,060), with personal computers overall showing a growth of 19% in volume and 20% in value over the same period in 2006.

Personal Computers

In the first half 2007 in Asia's retail PC market (desktop and portable personal computers), China (45 cities) led for volume, with a 19% increase to just over 4 million PC units, totaling over US$2.9 billion in revenue, a 20% increase from the same time last year. This represents an average unit price of US$615 for desktop units and US$982 for portable units.

This compares with average unit prices in Hong Kong of US$715 for desktop units and US$1231 for portable units, in Malaysia of US$599 for desktop units and US$890 for portable units, and in Australia of US$943 for desktop units and US$1305 for portable units. Price points are becoming more diverse, as operating systems within the machines are now available in DOS, Linux, Microsoft XP and Microsoft Vista. Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia are exhibiting higher price points as Vista is standard now for PCs sold in retail, whereas countries like Thailand and Indonesia are still dominated by DOS, Linus and Microsoft XP pre-loaded machines.

Portables reported the higher overall volume growth than desktop units, at 43%, with desktops showing only 8% growth for volume during the first half of 2007 when compared to the same period last year.

Desktop PCs

Desktop personal computers reported the highest volumes in China (45 cities, 2,697,914 units, just under $US1.66 billion in revenue), followed by Taiwan (262,682 units, just over $US153 in revenue), Indonesia (194,167 units, just under $US89 million in revenue), and Australia (125,152 units, $US118 million in revenue), Singapore had the lowest volume of units sold (23,609 units, $US23.4 million in revenue), and also recorded the highest average unit price in the region, at $US991.

Portable PCs

Portable personal computers reported the greatest volumes in China (45 cities, 1,326,264 units, just over US$1.3 billion in revenue), Australia (342,041 units, $US446.5 million in revenue), and Taiwan (193,011 units, $US200 million in revenue).

Gerard Tan, Commercial Director, IT, GfK Asia comments, "Due to the growth that we are witnessing for China now, we have since expanded our city coverage in China to represent 110 cities, up from 45 cities at this time last year. China represents a large and growing share of the Asian IT market, and our expansion is a reflection of our continuing commitment to providing the best possible market information to our clients. Interestingly, the larger cities in China are showing very different buying patterns from the smaller cities and more rural markets. Because of these differences, GfK continues its in- depth look into these markets to give our clients a better understanding of this vast and complicated market."

GfK Asia's report shows the region's retail printer market in decline, with 7 out of 9 countries tracked noting negative or no change in the first half of 2007 when compared to the same period last year. Hong Kong (23%) showed a volume increase of 12%, but a decrease is sales value of 2%. The exception was Malaysia, where printer sales increased 38% in volume and 49% in value.