Personal computer (PC) shipments worldwide rose in this year’s first quarter as orders and deliveries increased with companies scrambling to get ahead of import tariffs.
Research firm Canalys estimates that shipment for PCs rose more than 9% during Q1. The growth translates into about 63 million PC units shipped in the first three months of the year.
That growth is good news for PC makers such as Dell Technologies (DELL) and HP Inc. (HPQ), as well as PC component manufacturers such as Logitech International (LOGI).
The rise in PC shipments comes as companies and consumers raced to beat the deadline for U.S. President Donald Trump’s import tariffs.
The tariffs threatened to raise prices for computers and other electronics that are made outside America, notably in China and elsewhere in Asia.
The Q1 sales growth was especially welcome given that the PC market has been largely stagnant in recent years following a surge in purchases during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In 2024, global PC shipments increased only 1% after two straight years of declines, according to industry data.
Despite the strong sales between January and March of this year, it remains to be seen how President Trump’s ongoing tariffs will impact demand going forward.
The U.S. has placed a 125% tariff on goods imported from China, where much of the world’s PC manufacturing takes place.
Canalys said notebook shipments grew 10% during Q1 to more than 49 million units, while desktop shipments rose 8% in the quarter.
The stock of Dell Technologies has declined 32% over the last 12 months and currently trades at $84.19 U.S. per share.
