TrendForce: global notebook shipments reached 33.9 million units in 1Q23

According to the latest research report released by TrendForce, the global notebook shipment volume in the first quarter of 2023 amounted to approximately 33.9 million units, representing a 13% decline quarter-over-quarter and an even more substantial 39% decrease year-over-year. This is primarily attributed to the ongoing impact of economic sluggishness, wavering consumer market confidence, hindered inventory reduction progress for manufacturers, and prompting major brands to further reduce orders from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

This year’s COMPUTEX will once again be held at the end of May after a three-year hiatus. Eager to seize this opportunity to expand shipments, numerous brands are excitedly participating in this physical exhibition after a three-year hiatus. Recently, notebooks equipped with Nvidia GeForce RTX 40 Series mobile graphics cards have been successively launched, with the more budget-friendly mid-range and entry-level models garnering considerable attention from gamers, thereby expanding the pool of potential buyers for new devices.

As the topic of artificial intelligence gains momentum, high-performance models tailored for eSports and content creation are also attracting attention. Although this segment does not constitute a substantial market share, it can stimulate the overall consumer market, and it is anticipated that the notebook market will begin to rebound in the second quarter of this year.

In the face of declining market demand, shrinking revenues, and escalating financing and borrowing costs, many enterprises have adopted measures such as delaying procurement, implementing workforce optimization plans, and strictly controlling financial expenditures. As a result, the shipment volume of business notebooks is likely to decline further. Even though promotional efforts in the second half of the year may positively impact the market, it is difficult for the global notebook shipment volume to escape a downward trend in 2023 due to factors such as the protracted recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, expanding inflationary effects, and reduced corporate spending. The projected decline is estimated at 13%.