Global PC shipments are estimated to rise by 16 percent in the fourth quarter of 2007, according to IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker. After a slow second half of 2006, with growth hitting a low of 7 percent in the fourth quarter, growth has increased steadily in 2007 and the annual growth rate is expected to reach 14 percent up from 10 percent in 2006.

In the third quarter global portable PC shipment growth of 37 percent was the fastest in over a decade. With the support of emerging regions, global desktop volumes continue to increase in low single-digits. The gap between desktops and portables is at an all time high. Portable growth was more than 33 percentage points faster than desktop growth.

“The peak Portable growth seen in the third quarter will be difficult to sustain, but it reflects strong demand across regions and segments that will fuel growth going forward,” said Loren Loverde, director of IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker.

“It will be increasingly important for PC vendors to have a strong Portable offering to stay competitive as the market continues its rapid shift to mobile computing”

International markets are also driving volume. After years of steady growth, the PC market outside the U.S. and Japan reached 68 percent of global shipments in the third quarter. Asia/Pacific, Latin America, Canada, Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa are nearing 50 percent share and growing by more than 20 percent in 2007. Western Europe with 22 percent of global volume is also growing at a rapid rate.

“The significant influences driving the growth of portable PC volume include: falling prices, the narrowing performance gap as compared with desktops, improving wireless connectivity, and the expanded access through retail channels,” said Richard Shim, personal computing research manager.

“The desktop market will aim to maintain share by emphasizing improvements in energy efficiency, shrinking case designs and emerging mainstream opportunities, such as gaming and all in one systems.”