Lenovo seizes record share amid global PC market slowdown

Strong quarterly earnings numbers could be in the cards for Lenovo after it grew market share to remain the world's top supplier of personal computers in the three months to September, despite total industry shipments dropping to a five-year low.

In separate preliminary market estimates released yesterday, technology research firms IDC and Gartner said Lenovo's personal computer shipments rose about 2 per cent year on year in the quarter to 14.1 million units.

Lenovo, which operates in more than 160 countries, expanded faster than the overall personal computer market for the 18th consecutive quarter. The company also seized its highest ever quarterly market share, which IDC put at 17.3 per cent and Gartner at 17.6 per cent.

That was in contrast to the sixth consecutive quarter of declining shipments for the whole industry. IDC said the global market contracted 7.6 per cent year on year to 81.6 million units, while Gartner estimated an 8.6 per cent drop to 80.3 million.

But Angela Lee, a spokeswoman for Lenovo, said yesterday: "The PC industry still represents a US$200 billion opportunity and offers Lenovo substantial room for profitable growth."

In its fiscal first quarter ended June, Lenovo beat analysts' estimates when it reported a 23 per cent year-on-year increase in net profit to US$174 million on the back of growth in all its geographic markets.