China to overtake U.S. as world's top PC market

China will likely replace the United States next year as the world's No. 1 personal computer (PC) market, a market researcher said Wednesday, as the country's economic growth boosts demand. The International Data Corporation (IDC) predicted that China will outpace the U.S. in terms of the number of PC shipments in 2012, expecting 85.2 million units will be shipped in the world's second-largest economy, compared to 76.6 million in the U.S. The estimation includes desktops, portables and mini-notebooks but not handhelds, such as tablets, the research firm said in a report. The IDC said in a statement that the Chinese government's 12th Five-Year Plan, the country's development policy blueprint for the 2011-2015 period, will help increase consumer penetration across the country. Meanwhile, PC shipments in China reached 18.5 million units in the second quarter this year, compared to 17.7 million units in the U.S. In the April-June period, China's market share of global PC shipments increased to 22 percent, compared to the 21 percent share held by the world's largest economy. For full 2011, shipments in China will probably reach 72.4 million for the year, the IDC said. More than 73 million units are expected to be shipped in the U.S.