Volume sales of notebooks, desktops and PC workstations through distributors declined by -3.3% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2015 across Western Europe according to data published by CONTEXT, the European IT market analysis company which uses raw data from leading channels.
A year ago, the same quarter saw a +22.2% year-on-year rise in PC sales as XP-migration demand and the launch of low-end, Bing-based notebooks boosted growth. While the strong prior-year performance and continuous currency issues impacted distributor sales during Q3 2015, the quarter was also characterised by efforts to deplete inventory in many Western European countries.
Performance across the top Western European countries continued to vary markedly. “The UK, less affected than the eurozone countries by currency issues over the past few quarters, posted a +11.2% year-on-year growth in PC sales through distributors”, said Marie-Christine Pygott, Senior Analyst at CONTEXT. “In Spain, the figure was up by +17.5% as it continued to recover from a long period of decline during the financial crisis.”
France saw PC sales grow by a small +0.5%, while Germany and Italy posted drops of -13.9% and -11.9% respectively, after strong growth last year.
Country split – year-on-year Q3 2015 growth/ decline
UK +11.2%
Germany -13.9%
Italy -11.9%
Spain +17.5%
France +0.5%
Sweden -10.5%
Denmark +11.2%
Switzerland -11.3%
Austria +4.9%