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Global PC shipments rose 8.4% year-over-year in the second quarter of 2025—the strongest annual growth since 2022—driven by recovering demand and improved supply chains, according to preliminary estimates from Counterpoint Research.
Lenovo (OTCPK:LNVGY), Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), and Asus each saw over 10% year-on-year shipment growth, outperforming other brands and further consolidating their worldwide market dominance.
Yet, the global PC manufacturing footprint remains heavily concentrated in China, posing significant challenges for the industry in mitigating tariff risks in the near term.
“Due to uncertainty related to the US tariff policy, many OEMs are currently in a ‘wait-and-see’ mode, and OEMs are adjusting their manufacturing locations as tariff concerns continue to loom. These restrictions and supply chain reallocations are expected to be a hurdle for PC shipments in 2025, the research noted.
“The tariff policy roller coaster will likely cause consumers and enterprises to pause their AI PC purchases in 2025, which in turn will suppress growth for this segment. The lingering global economic uncertainty also poses a downside risk to our 2025 PC shipment forecast of low-single-digit YoY percentage growth,” Associate Director David Naranjo said.
The ongoing diversification of production bases, according to Counterpoint Research, reflects an industry-wide strategy to minimize exposure to trade disruptions while ensuring supply chain resilience.
As such, a key focus is on transitioning manufacturing for US-bound goods to facilities located outside China.
In conclusion, as tariff and trade uncertainties linger, the global PC industry continues to focus on diversifying its production footprint to ensure stability and adaptability.
“With AI laptops projected to become a mainstream standard by 2026, vendors who invest early in competitive pricing and ecosystem readiness will likely gain an edge in the next wave of PC upgrades.”