Canalys: Global PC shipments increased by 9% in the first quarter of 2025
According to the latest data from Canalys, which is now part of Omdia, the total volume of desktop, notebook, and workstation shipments grew by 9.4% to 62.7 million units in the first quarter of 2025. Notebook shipments (including mobile workstations) reached 49.4 million units, which is 10% more than a year ago. Desktop shipments (including desktop workstations) increased by 8% to 13.3 million units. In the first quarter, shipment volumes rose as manufacturers ramped up deliveries to the U.S. in anticipation of the first round of tariff measures from the Trump administration. As the next round of tariff increases for more countries takes effect, both direct and indirect consequences threaten the recovery of the global PC market and the acceleration of growth due to the end of Windows 10 support by the end of the year.
“In the first quarter of 2025, there was a surge in PC shipments as manufacturers sped up deliveries to the U.S. in anticipation of the initial tariffs being announced,” said Ishan Dutt, Principal Analyst at Canalys, now part of Omdia. Lenovo and HP increased their U.S. shipments in Q1 by about 20% and 13%, respectively. “This preemptive strategy allowed manufacturers and distributors to build up inventory ahead of potential price hikes, boosting sales despite stable end-user demand,” Dutt added. “Although similar measures will be taken for broader tariffs coming into force on April 9, 2025, growth is likely to slow in the following quarters as inventory levels normalize and customers face higher prices.”
The impact of tariffs on consumer demand is expected to be more significant, as purchasing a more expensive PC must be prioritized over other spending categories that are also seeing price increases. Businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), will also face some pressure, which could slow the critical transition away from Windows 10 ahead of its end-of-support (EOS) date in October 2025. “A March survey by Canalys (now part of Omdia) conducted among channel partners familiar with SME PC upgrade plans showed that 14% of respondents said their clients are unaware of Windows 10 EOS, while another 21% said their clients are aware but not planning to upgrade,” said Dutt. “For clients in such situations, a delay in planning means they are likely to face higher costs when it comes time to refresh their PC fleet.”
From a manufacturing perspective, major manufacturers had already begun diversifying supply chains during Trump’s first term and are expected to continue moving operations out of China to Vietnam, Thailand, and India — even though these countries are also subject to tariffs. By the end of 2025, most large PC makers are expected to complete the shift of U.S.-bound shipments out of China to strengthen supply chain resilience and mitigate the impact of tariffs. For example, in its latest earnings report, HP CEO Enrique Lores stated that by the end of this year, 90% of the company’s products sold in the U.S. would be manufactured outside China. “Although these major manufacturing countries have been hit by tariffs, their prices remain relatively competitive compared to China,” said Ben Yeh, Senior Analyst at Canalys, now part of Omdia. “Moreover, these countries have shown a willingness to negotiate, which increases the likelihood that tariffs may eventually be reduced or lifted, while China quickly responded with a new round of reciprocal tariffs. As a result, relocation plans are still in development and are unlikely to change significantly until further implementation details are announced.”
Source: https://canalys.com/newsroom/worldwide-pc-shipments-q1-2025