Quanta Aims to Ship 40 Percent More Notebook PCs in 2008

Quanta Computer Inc has ambitious plans to ship 40 percent more notebook PCs annually or totaling 45 million units, or even 50 million units, this year, according to Barry Lam, Company Chairman.

Increasing orders from existing clients, such as Apple, HP and Toshiba, as well as new ones from Acer for low-priced laptops this year encourage Quanta to optimistically raise its shipment projection to 45 million units from original 40 million units. However, current shortages of notebook PC batteries may undermine Quanta`s shipment performance, according to institutional investors.

Also, CC Liang, Quanta`s Vice President, said recently at an institutional investor meeting that explosive demand for notebook PCs in emerging markets this year is expected to help Quanta ship over 40 million units. Lam and Liang`s talk implies that Quanta`s business operation has been unaffected by US`s sub-prime-mortgage crisis so far.

As global shipment of notebook PCs is widely believed to exceed that of desktop models this year for the first time, Quanta, to expand production capacity to meet the boom, has moved to add new production lines in its Shanghai plant. Besides, the company will decide on the locations for new plants next year, with cities in Eastern China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Taiwan and the Philippines being considered, according to Liang.

Source: CENS