The computer business remains among the safest and most profitable sectors in the Romanian economy, as sales are posting an uninterrupted increase.
Although this is an electoral year, when the Government and the big companies generally cut down their investments in IT, the Romanian computer market (desktops, laptops and servers) surged in the second quarter of the year, compared to the corresponding period of last year.
The growth was mainly prompted by the acquisitions made by the SOHO (small office/home office) segment and by the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), sectors that are proving somewhat more "immune" to the uncertainty surrounding the formation of the new government, towards the end of the year.
More exactly, between April-June 2004, 75% more computers were sold than in the corresponding period of last year, with the market's value having increased 56.4 percent, according to surveys conducted by American research company IDC. In terms of product categories, servers logged the greatest increase in sales, both in terms of number of units (99.9%) and in terms of value (108.4%). Mobile and desktop computers have posted similar growth in terms of sales (approximately 75%), but, when it comes to value, laptops stay ahead, having logged almost 30% increase, which is only natural, given the price difference between the two types of products.
"IDC data regarding the second quarter of 2004 documents the significant growth trend for the sales of computers, compared to the year-ago period. It is also worth noting that the biggest growths, in terms of number of units, are recorded in the SOHO sector (plus 51 percent) and in the case of SMEs (plus 32.7%), whereas the government sector and the big companies are spending less on IT equipment," says Valentin Negoita, chairman of the Association of Producers and Distributors of Information Technology and Communications Equipment (APDETIC).
The upward trend of computer sales will continue, although slowing down a bit this summer, with a new boom to occur by the end of the year, the main market players feel.
In fact, the PC market doubled in the fourth quarter of 2003 as compared to the third quarter, due to broader access to consumer lending and to the traditional "winter surge" of IT investments.
"For Q3, we forecast a slight increase in the number of the systems that are fully assembled and then sold under the Ultra brand, which growth will also be triggered by the recent expansion of our network of stores," Alina Fughin, general manager of KTech UltraPro group told Ziarul Financiar. "For the fourth quarter, we estimate the number of units sold under the Ultra logo will actually double," Alina Fughina added.
The chairman of APDETIC (association comprising the biggest names in the Romanian computer distribution business) also confirms the growth predictions.
"The last part of this year will see an even bigger sales growth in the SOHO sector, considering the 25,000 participants in the government programme destined to high school and college students for the acquisition of computers," Valentin Negoita maintained.
victor@zf.ro
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