By Meryl Kao /
Global notebook computer shipments are expected to decline about 13 percent year-on-year this year, as rising prices and shortages of key components, including memory chips and central processing units, continue to weigh on consumer purchases in the second half of the year, TrendForce Corp (集邦科技) said yesterday.The forecast marks a steeper decline than the 9.4 percent contraction that the Taipei-based market researcher projected in January, TrendForce research vice president Boyce Fan (范博毓) told the Taipei Times by telephone.Major notebook brands have begun raising retail prices in response to higher memory prices, while adjusting product mixes — such as placing greater emphasis on midrange and high-end models, while lowering specifications for entry-level products — to maintain profitability, Fan said.
Visitors observe latest laptop models during the COMPUTEX 2026 in Taipei, Taiwan, 02 June 2026. COMPUTEX 2026, themed `AI Together,` is its biggest edition yet, with 1,500 companies from 33 countries and 6,000 booths, highlighting how AI is moving beyond the cloud into real-world deployment, driving intelligent infrastructure, physical AI, and connected ecosystems.
However, demand uncertainty remains high in the second half of the year, with notebook brands and supply chain partners continuing to build inventories and accelerate shipments ahead of further price hikes for key components, he said.Consumer demand and replacement cycles could further weaken in the second half, he added.
