“Globally, we estimate the PC market will grow by 10%, but in Romania the rate should be even higher than that,” Klekowski said.
After peaking in 2008, when Romanians bought one million PCs, in 2009 the market fell by more than 50%, but saw a tentative recovery in 2010, to around 600,000 units, according to reports by market research company IDC. In the first quarter, the market grew 12%, according to the same source. HP Romania, the largest company on the computer market, expects it to grow 15%, to 700,000 units.
“We have looked at figures regarding the Romanian market in the first half and we believe the growth rate was slightly higher than that reported, because certain stock problems were solved.” As for the market share of Intel processors in PC systems sold in Romania, Klekowski says it has grown, without providing details. “In Romania we recorded higher growth than on other markets, but that was basically making up for ground lost in 2009.”
Why will PC acquisitions in Romania rise? The Intel manager says the reasons include both public procurement and acquisitions by private companies and consumers who, given the recent economic stability, have started to invest in technology again. Also helping the market will be the continuation of the government program under which pre-university students from low-income families receive a 200-euro coupon to buy a PC, said Klekowski.
(English version by Daniela Stoican; Editing by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)