Overview by "IT Market Bestsellers" with comments by Merlion.
Date: December 17, 2024
Edition: IT Market Bestsellers
Author: Dmitry Shulgin
According to ITResearch, the Russian PC market (including desktops and laptops) reached around 1.9 million units in Q3 2024, showing a 17% year-on-year increase.
In monetary terms, the market amounted to $1.12 billion. Interestingly, ruble prices for most computer goods remained stable in Q3 as sellers tried to hold prices steady due to fragile demand. Inventory bought under previous exchange rates was being sold off.
Overall, 4.85 million computers were sold in the first three quarters of 2024, a slight decrease (-0.6%) compared to the same period in 2023.
All three PC segments—desktop systems, AIOs (all-in-ones), and laptops—experienced growth but at different rates. Desktop systems grew by just 3%, while AIOs and laptops saw substantial increases of 28% and 31%, respectively.
Desktop PCs
The leaders in the desktop segment were DNS, Aquarius, and iRu, with a combined 13% market share. The share of foreign desktops, which had been declining, unexpectedly rose to 9%. This increase was due to imports of budget-friendly USFF (ultra-small form factor) PCs, primarily from Asian brands, rather than a resurgence of major global brands.
Market Participant Opinions
Question: How do you assess the demand for desktops in the business (corporate and government) and consumer sectors since the beginning of the year?
Citilink, Ekaterina Moskaleva, Head of Mobile Systems Procurement:
Throughout most of 2024, desktop demand has steadily grown in the corporate segment. In B2B, unit turnover increased by 15% compared to 2023.
Merlion, Press Office:
The number of PCs sold by our company has been growing for three years. Domestic solutions now account for 60% of sales.
AIO PCs
iRu, Aquarius, and ICL led the AIO segment, accounting for 37% of sales in unit terms. AIOs are the most "pro-Russian" PC segment, with 74% of shipments coming from domestic brands. More and more assemblers are offering AIO PCs under their own brands.
Laptops
The leaders in the laptop segment were Honor, Asus, and Huawei (considering laptop volumes, these same names also make up the list of overall leaders in the Russian PC market across all three segments). Together, they sold 31% of laptops, indicating a highly fragmented market. Russian brands now hold 23% of the domestic laptop market.
Demand for laptops has risen but is largely concentrated on budget models. Any price increases, especially due to exchange rate fluctuations by the end of the year, may cause demand issues. Signs of slowing sales were already evident in October.
Market Participant Opinions
Question: How do you evaluate laptop sales in the business and consumer sectors?
Merlion, Press Office:
Based on preliminary data, laptop sales in 2024 will exceed those in 2023. However, it's important to note that market growth slowed after September, with success largely driven by the first nine months.
Question: Has the market been able to shift domestic consumers from foreign OS and office packages to local solutions by the end of 2024?
Merlion, Press Office:
This path is complex. Global software giants have achieved success over decades, but government support in Russia has widened the range of products with domestic software. Trust in these products is growing.
Source: https://www.itbestsellers.ru/reviews/detail.php?ID=57327&sphrase_id=3739432
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