Global notebook shipments tipped to drop 8%, MIC says

The projected 8 percent drop in global notebook shipments this year, followed by another 4.7 percent decline in 2025, reflects a challenging period for PC makers in Asia. The Market Intelligence and Consulting Institute (MIC) points to weak demand and high component prices, with the latter exacerbated by the booming AI server market. This competition for standard DRAM and high-bandwidth memory chips, along with other high-end components, is expected to persist until 2028, impacting the cost and availability for traditional PC manufacturing. Taiwanese manufacturers, in particular, will feel the pinch as they navigate these supply chain pressures. Despite the immediate downturn, the MIC forecasts a significant shift towards AI PCs, with penetration projected to reach 76.1 percent by 2028, up from 54.1 percent this year. This suggests a future where AI capabilities are standard, not optional. The critical factor for Asian PC makers will be their ability to integrate meaningful agentic workloads locally on devices, requiring greater computing power and memory. Companies that compromise on specifications to cut costs risk losing competitiveness as AI becomes an expected user experience. While NAND flash memory shortages might ease by late 2025, the broader component crunch driven by AI server demand presents a sustained headwind for the traditional notebook market. Asian manufacturers must balance cost control with the need to deliver robust AI PC experiences to capture future market share, especially as the industry looks towards 2028 for a potential recovery in replacement demand.