Notebook demand may not see as strong growth in the second half as originally expected and overall shipments are expected to decline to 160 million units in 2015, down 5% on year with some conservative players even forecasting the number to reach only 150 million units, down a double-digit percentage on year, according to sources from the upstream supply chain.
After having a weak first half, the sources said that they are still seeing weak orders from brand vendors for the second half as depreciation of non-US currencies and oil price drops have both caused overall consumer purchasing to stay weak. Although many vendors expect Windows 10 to trigger a PC replacement trend after its launch, some are concerned that the free upgrade is unlikely to help prompt consumers to replace their machines.
The sources noted that their brand clients have all been reducing their orders for the second half recently and this could seriously impact the notebook industry's overall performance in the second half.
The sources noted that they have low order visibility currently, and with clients continuing to adjust their shipment forecasts for the second half, they are unable to make accurate forecasts to prepare their inventory.
