HP, Lenovo expected to see 1Q13 notebook shipments fall 20% sequentially

Hewlett-Packard (HP) and Lenovo are expected to see their notebook shipments drop about 20% sequentially in the first quarter of 2013, higher than an average 10% decline anticipated for the industry, according to sources at the notebook supply chain.

A high base for the fourth quarter of 2012 and the impact of the traditionally slow season in the first quarter will contribute to sales decline at notebook vendors, said the sources.

HP is expected to ship 6.5-6.7 million notebooks in the first quarter of 2013 compared to an estimate of 8-8.5 million units shipped in the previous quarter, while Lenovo will see its shipments tumble to 5.2-5.4 million units from 6.5-6.7 million units during the same period, the sources estimated.

Taiwan-based notebook vendors Acer and Asustek Computer are set to see first-quarter shipments drop 7-10% sequentially, the source added.

Demand for notebooks in the end market is expected to return to normal in March before staging a substantial pick-up in April, commented the sources.