PC imports soar, but sales only moderately higher<\/p>\n
Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Imports of personal computers soared 43 percent in the first
\nsemester of the year as local traders aggressively added to their
\nstock on the strengthening of the rupiah to the U.S. dollar.<\/p>\n
But domestic sales of PCs only moderately increased 10 percent
\nin that period, according to the Indonesian Association of
\nComputer Dealers (Apkomindo).<\/p>\n
Association chairman Hidayat Tjokroadjojo said over the
\nweekend that domestic sales of PCs reached 165,000 units in the
\nfirst semester of the year, up from 150,000 in the same period
\nlast year.<\/p>\n
Hidayat said the association had in fact expected more than a
\n10 percent increase in sales last semester, but many buyers
\napparently delayed their purchase plan given the fluctuation of
\nthe rupiah. They apparently expected the rupiah to strengthen
\nfurther in time.<\/p>\n
However, the strengthening of the rupiah has prompted local
\ntraders to buy more PCs from producers.<\/p>\n
The latest report by the International Data Corporation (IDC)
\nsaid Indonesia's import of PCs during the first semester reached
\n323,400 units, a 43 percent increase from last year's 170,000.<\/p>\n
In the second quarter of the year, imports reached 165,300
\nunits, representing a 43.6 percent increase from the same period
\nlast year.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the IDC report, Hidayat said the significant
\nrise in PC imports was due to the strong performance of the
\nrupiah in March and April, which encouraged traders to add to
\ntheir stock. They expect a higher margin from the sale of their
\ngoods when the rupiah weakens.<\/p>\n
In April, the rupiah managed to strengthen to a nine-month
\nhigh of about Rp 8,500 to the dollar, but the local currency has
\nbecome slightly weaker, hovering around Rp 9,000 over the past
\nseveral weeks. April's rise was the rupiah's strongest
\nperformance since October last year.<\/p>\n
Domestic computer sales are always sensitive to the
\nfluctuation of the local currency against the dollar. When the
\nrupiah weakens, PC prices instantly increase. To prevent a
\npotential loss, local vendors usually set PC prices in American
\ndollars.<\/p>\n
\"Fluctuations in the rupiah are a computer dealer's worst
\nnightmare, since more than 80 percent of the components in PCs
\nare imported,\" said Hidayat.<\/p>\n
He said the local PC market had recovered over the past two
\nyears after plummeting in the first years of the economic crisis.
\nThe banking, telecommunications and oil and gas sectors have
\nshown signs of recovery, which have had a positive impact on the
\nPC market.<\/p>\n
\"Normally, local PC sales get a boost in the second semester.
\nHigh demand is driven by the start of school and seasonal buying
\nby corporations,\" said Hidayat.<\/p>\n
Apkomindo has projected total PC sales for this year at
\n566,000, compared to 482,000 in 2001. Locally assembled PCs will
\ncontinue dominating the market with a 60 percent market share.<\/p>\n
To lift PC sales to meet the association's target, Apkomindo
\nplans to hold a computer exhibition at the end of this month.<\/p>",
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