India PC market falls 15% in Q2 2023, revival expected 2024 onwards: Canalys

Shipments in the India PC market (incl. tablets) fell 15% year-over-year in Q2 2023 to 3.9 million units, according to the latest data released by Canalys on Wednesday. The research firm expects the Centre’s recent imposition of import restrictions on dekstops, notebooks, and tablets to disrupt the market, particularly affecting major foreign vendors that have yet to initiate local manufacturing.

“This disruption is anticipated to intensify toward the end of 2023, with restrictions slated to commence in November. Consequently, vendors are set to aggressively push inventory in both the consumer and commercial segments,” Canalys Analyst Ashweej Aithal said.

“In response to the impending scarcity of devices, there may also be an uptick in rapid deal closures. Vendors could face the need for additional import licenses, but the government is expediting the licensing process to mitigate price surges caused by the anticipated scarcity,” Aithal added.

Canalys data shows that in spite of being fifth-ranked, Apple was the only vendor to grow in the India PC (incl. tablets) market, with its shipments growing 89.5% year-over-year in Q2 2023. The Cupertino-based brand expanded its share from 3.7% in Q2 2022 to 8.2% in Q2 2023.

First-ranked HP’s shipments fell 14.4% year-over-year but its market share expanded marginally from 25% in Q2 2022 to 25.3% in Q2 2023. Lenovo, in the second position, saw highest decline of 33.9% and its market share eroded from 21.1% in Q2 2022 to 16.5% in Q2 2023, the research firm’s data showed.

Dell and Acer took third and fourth positions with a market share of 10.5% and 10.1%, respectively, as per Canalys.

The research firm has predicted that shipments in the India PC (incl. tablets) market will fall by 9% in 2023, with a bounce back projected in 2024 and 2025, with shipments in both years expected to grow robustly by 15% year-over-year.

Canalys said that the fundamentals around PC use and adoption in India remain strong and it expects the “shipment peak achieved in 2022 to be surpassed”.