Global shipments of personal computers (PCs) fell sharply in the third quarter of 2026, declining 20.1% year over year, according to preliminary estimates from market research firm International Data Corporation (IDC).
Worldwide PC shipments totalled 62.7 million units in July–September, down from 78.5 million units during the same period last year.
Demand for computers typically rises in the third quarter as consumers prepare for the new academic year and the festive shopping season. However, that seasonal trend failed to materialise this year. Shipments also fell 9.1% compared with the previous quarter. Advance inventory purchases, rising component prices and higher production costs are considered the main reasons for the decline.
According to IDC, PC shipments in the second quarter of 2026, covering April–June, fell 3.8% compared with the same period a year earlier. Shipments usually increase from the second to the third quarter, making this year’s decline an unusual departure from the typical pattern.
Market analysts say manufacturers and retailers placed large orders for computers and components during the first half of the year amid expectations of potential price increases. Concerns that the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) could drive up prices for memory and data-storage components prompted many to purchase products in advance.
The effects of those early purchases are now being felt across the market.
As previously purchased products remain unsold, retailers have accumulated larger inventories of computers in their warehouses. Consequently, they have reduced new orders, leading to a decline in shipments of newly manufactured PCs to the market.
Jitesh Ubrani, research director for consumer devices at IDC, said the impact of advance inventory stocking during the first half of the year had become evident. He noted that manufacturers and retailers had purchased large quantities of products ahead of anticipated price increases, disrupting the computer market’s normal sales patterns.
Meanwhile, rising component prices have pushed up PC manufacturing costs, affecting the retail prices of new computers. Higher prices could prompt some consumers to postpone their purchases, raising concerns that market demand may weaken further.
Major Brands Also See Shipment Declines
The global decline in PC shipments has affected nearly all major manufacturers, although the extent of the downturn varies by company.
IDC’s preliminary figures show that HP’s PC shipments fell 30.9% year over year in the third quarter of 2026. Dell recorded a 25% decline, while Lenovo, the market leader, saw shipments drop 22.6%. Apple and Asus experienced comparatively smaller declines. Apple’s PC shipments fell 11.3%, while Asus recorded an 8.6% decrease during the quarter.
Overall, rising component prices, higher production costs and the effects of advance inventory stocking have contributed to a significant contraction in global PC shipments. If higher prices further dampen consumer demand, conditions in the computer market could become even more challenging.
