Global shipments of personal computers (PCs) in the second quarter of 2026 fell by 4.9 per cent compared with the same period the previous year, to 68.2 million units, according to preliminary data from the International Data Corporation (IDC).
Prior to this, the figure had been rising for nine consecutive quarters. The decline was attributed to a prolonged shortage of memory chips and other components, as well as geopolitical instability, the report states.
The shortage of memory chips is expected to persist until early 2028, according to Jitesh Ubrani, IDC’s research director for consumer devices.
“As market conditions deteriorate, supply chain management and related capabilities are becoming increasingly important. The largest suppliers, with their purchasing power and long-standing relationships with suppliers, are best placed to win market share from smaller competitors,” notes Jean-Philippe Bouchard, Vice President for Consumer Devices at IDC.