Global shipments of personal computers declined by 4.9% in the second quarter, marking the first year-on-year drop in two years, as an ongoing worldwide shortage of memory chips continues to impact the entire technology sector.

Market research firm International Data Corporation (IDC) indicates that while the current memory chip supply crisis has not yet affected PC manufacturers' revenues, the associated risks are steadily increasing.

IDC's research director for consumer devices, Jitesh Ubrani, stated in a release: "The macroeconomic environment remains weak, and the memory chip shortage is not expected to ease until early 2028, which means we will not see a scenario where manufacturers stock up in advance. This signals a significant slowdown in industry growth for the second half of 2026."

"Major PC manufacturers are preparing for further price increases on their products in 2027; distribution channels have also issued warnings about the growing risk of inventory buildup for higher-priced items."

Data center construction companies, with their substantial capital, are willing to spend heavily to hoard memory chips. This directly squeezes the procurement channels for consumer electronics manufacturers, drastically reducing their available supply sources.

In the first half of this year, PC manufacturers shipped products early and raised prices for complete systems to hedge against future cost pressures from rising memory chip prices. However, this strategy may fail if consumers remain unwilling to pay higher prices for laptops and desktops over the long term.

Notebook brands including HP Inc (NYSE: HPQ), Dell Technologies Inc (NYSE: DELL), and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) have increased prices on their Windows-based computers; Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) has also raised prices across its entire MacBook lineup, including the Neo, Air, and Pro series.

IDC notes that rising costs will continue to squeeze the viability of small and medium-sized PC manufacturers. This industry upheaval is likely to drive consolidation through mergers and acquisitions, potentially allowing leading companies to expand their competitive advantages.