For the first time since the start of the COVID-19 global pandemic, the PC monitor market has shown a year-on-year decline. The findings were reported by IDC last week. The 7.2% year-on-year decline in the third quarter of 2021 amounted to about 34.8 million units made.
The decline follows five consecutive quarters of year-on-year growth. IDC said that even though many countries, especially in emerging economies (Asia/Pacific), continued to show solid demand and fulfilled backorders, Western Europe and North America markets contracted significantly due to softening consumer demand.
Problems continue
The firm also cited some supply and logistics challenges that persist, even as prices increase. Some companies’ return to the office has eased the decline as companies update their operations to accommodate in-person workers.
The Dell and Lenovo numbers reflect this declining trend. The two vendors experienced negative growth of 20.6% and 6.9% year on year for Q3 2021, respectively. All the other tracked PC monitor makers experienced negative growth as commercial kits went down two points year-on-year. Consumer model shipments contracted by an average of about 12%.
Peaks and troughs
IDC predicts that the market will continue the downward slide, as shipments are expected to slow down for the remainder of the year. In perspective, though, the situation is not so dire. Even with the decline experienced this year, the pandemic boom was so robust that shipment volume will likely close the year 4.6% ahead of 2020 numbers.
Jay Chou, research manager for IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly PC Monitor Tracker, expects the market will achieve peak volume as the year comes to an end, with the highest shipment volume recorded since 2012.
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