IDC: Mobile devices to dominate future e-waste streams

ALBANY (Scrap Monster): The latest report published by the International Data Corporation (IDC) indicates that global shipment of PCs continued to remain weak in 2014. According to IDC, the worldwide PC shipments dropped by 2.1% in 2014 to total 308 million units. Last week, Gartner had projected the total global PC shipment figure for 2014 at 318 million units.

This is the third consecutive year that the shipment volume of PCs has declined. Personal Computers are being replaced with tablet and smartphone devices. The current trend clearly indicates that the future e-scrap streams will be dominated by widely popular mobile devices.

Among vendors, four out of the top five, reported year-on-year growth in PC shipments. Lenovo shipped highest volume, with total shipments during 2014 amounting to nearly 60 million. The total shipments by the company witnessed 10.1% year-on-year growth. In second position was HP with total shipments growing by 8.9% to over 57 million. Dell followed with 10.3% growth in shipment volume. The company shipped nearly 42 million units. The only top vendor to report year-on-year decline in shipment volume was the Acer Group with volumes declining by 1.6% to 24 million units.

Apple shipped nearly 20 million units, 15.7% higher than the 2013 shipping volume.

However, the PC companies outside of the top-five witnessed sharp decline in shipments, registering 17.5% decline in shipment volume.

Region wise, the US and Europe reported rise in shipments during 2014, whereas the Asian, Pacific and the Japanese markets witnessed year-on-year declines.