Global Shipment of Tablet PCs Will Score Robust Growth

Taipei, June 29, 2012 (CENS)--Google and ASUS jointly rolled out Nexus 7, while Amazon and Apple are scheduled to launch Kindle Fire 2 and iPad Mini, respectively, in the third quarter, triggering a completion for low-priced tablet PCs among the three brands. The Market Intelligence Center (MIC) of the Institute for Information Industry (III) revised upward yesterday (June 28) its forecast for global shipment of tablet PCs to 110 million units this year, of which 80% will be manufactured by Taiwanese firms, notably Hon Hai and Quanta.

The revised forecast shipment represents 63.4% annual growth and is 20% higher than the forecast of 91.14 million units made by MIC at the end of last year. Hung Chun-hui, deputy director of MIC, attributed the upward forecast to sharp growth in the shipment of low-priced tablet PCs and brisk sales of China-made white-brand tablet PCs in emerging markets.

IDC, another market research body, also predicted that global shipment of tablet PCs will top 100 million units this year, of which Apple iPad will account for 62%, down from 68% in the first quarter, due to the joining of competitors.

Hon Hai and Pegatron will monopolize iPad orders, while Quanta will pocket orders of Amazon and Google Nexus 7. Hung Chun-hui noted that Taiwanese firms account for 80% of the global production of tablet PCs, which will continue to maintain high growth in the next two years.

Shih Ya-ju, senior industrial analyst of MIC, pointed out that Google teamed up with ASUS in rolling out Nexus 7, Amazon is ready to launch 2nd-generation Kindle Fire, while Apple will also reportedly roll out 7” iPad Mini. The three products are all priced at around US$199 (NT$6,000), compared with US$499 for existing mainstream 10” models. The low prices will stimulate new demand.

With prices reaching as low as US$99 (NT$3,000), China-made white-brand tablet PCs are enjoying booming sales in the Chinese market. In addition, Chinese manufacturers have also won many large-scale government bids in emerging markets, such as Thailand and India. It is estimated that shipment of white-brand tablet PCs will double this year.

Institutional investors predicted that Hon Hai, Quanta, Pegatron, and Compal will witness explosive growth in tablet-PC orders in the second half, while ASUS and Quanta may score 100% growth in shipment of tablet PCs in the third quarter.

Meanwhile, Hung Chun-hui reported that affected by the European-debt crisis and slowdown of the mainland Chinese economy, global shipment of notebook PCS will only advance 6.15% to 207 million units this year.