IC market for PC systems to reach 77.7bn

Following three consecutive years of decline, the IC market for total personal computing systems is forecast to grow by 6% to $77.7 billion in 2014 and climb another 6% in 2015 to $82.1 billion, according to IC Insights' report: IC Market Drivers - A Study of Emerging and Major End-Use Applications Fueling Demand for Integrated Circuits.

A new record high is forecast to be set in 2016, when sales reach $88 billion, according to the report. Between 2012 and 2017, personal computing IC sales are projected to rise by a CAGR of 2.7%, totaling $85 billion in the final year of the forecast.

Personal computing systems, standard PCs, tablets, and internet/cloud-computing laptops, are forecast to remain the largest market for ICs with $77.7 billion (27%) of total integrated circuit sales expected from these systems in 2014. When all computer systems are considered (eg, mainframes, supercomputers, servers, printers, monitors and other peripherals as well as personal computing products), 36% of all dollars spent on ICs is forecast to be for computer equipment in 2014, according to the report.

In the last three years (2011-2013), personal computing system IC sales were pulled down by decline in integrated circuit purchases for standard desktop and notebook PCs.

After surging 27% in the 2010 recovery year, PC IC sales slid 8% in 2011 to $71 billion, followed by an 11% drop in 2012 to $63.3 billion. In 2013, PC IC sales dropped 8% to $58.1 billion. PC integrated circuit sales are expected to rise 3% in 2014 to $59.6 billion. In the 2012-2017 period, PC IC sales are projected to fall by a CAGR of -0.4% to $62.1 billion in the final year of the forecast.

Meanwhile, tablet integrated circuit sales increased 37% in 2013 to $14.7 billion from $10.7 billion in 2012, when revenues surged 73% from $6.2 billion in 2011. IC Insights is forecasting a 20% increase in tablet integrated circuit sales in 2014 to $17.6 billion, followed by 10% growth in 2015 to $19.5 billion. Between 2012 and 2017, tablet IC sales are expected to grow by a CAGR of 15.3% to $21.8 billion in the final year of the forecast. The internet/cloud systems segment is expected to generate $558 million in IC sales in 2014, which will be a 37% increase from about $408 million in 2013. IC sales for internet/cloud computing systems are projected to grow by a CAGR of 28.7% in the forecast period, reaching $1.1 billion in 2017.