Taipei, Dec. 4, 2012 (CENS)--Asustek Computer Inc. yesterday pledged to become the world's No.2 supplier of mobile computers in 2013 by shipping 12 million tablet PCs and 24 million laptop PCs, which will represent a 90% and 7.6% increase, respectively, over 2012's volumes.
The company held a global sales meeting yesterday at its global headquarters in Taipei. Its ambitious pledge will challenge Lenovo and Samsung.
To achieve the shipment goal for its laptops, the company decided to phase out of netbook market in 2013. Industry executives estimated the exit will likely reward the company with a 26% increase in laptop shipments in 2013.
The 2013 goal for tablet PC is a revision to originally planned 10 million units. In 2012, the company is set to ship 6.3 million tablet PCs, around 2.5 folds the number it shipped in 2011. It projected to ship around 19 million traditional laptops in 2012, an increase of 29% over 2011.
Besides tablet PCs and laptops, Asustek planned to ship one million of its Padfone, a tablet/smartphone combination.
In the first three quarters of 2012, the company recorded NT$21.17 in earnings per share thanks to strong shipments of Win8 PCs. The company estimated its consolidated revenue for the fourth quarter of 2012 at NT$117-122.5 billion (US$4-4.2 billion at US$1: NT$29), up 5-10% from the third quarter.
Apple is the No.1, shipping an estimated 40 million iPad tablets and around 10 million smartphones in 2012.
