Asustek to Find Third Notebook PC Contract Assembler in Taiwan

With concerns of cost structures, Asustek Computer Inc plans to find its third contract notebook PC assembler in Taiwan this year in addition to existing partners Hon Hai Precision Ind Co Ltd and Pegatron Corp.

Asustek`s CEO Jerry Shen made the statement at the just-ended CeBIT computer show held in Hanover, Germany, in which Asustek is the largest Taiwanese exhibitor in terms of exhibition scale.

The company aims to ship 5 to 10 percent more motherboards in the first quarter from the fourth quarter in 2009 (5.3 million units), but a 10 to 20 percent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) decrease in notebook PC (2.7 million in fourth quarter 2009) and Eee PC (1.8 million).

In 2009, Asustek shipped a total of 12.2 million portable PCs, including 6.8 million notebook PCs, 5.4 million Eee PCs, and Shen has claimed that the total volume should grow to 16 million units this year on a conservative estimate. Some industry insiders said in Asustek, in fact, the management eyes a 60 percent year-on-year (YoY) shipment growth to more than 20 million units this year.

Shen claimed that Asustek aims to become the world`s No.4 notebook PC brand this year, and the No.3 player in 2011. The company has been aggressively trying to boast its global market share to outstrip 10 percent.

The CEO also stressed that the 2010 is an important start for restructuring Asustek`s supply chain, which is one of the key factors leading to the company`s higher market share and lower production cost. He stressed that his company has poured many efforts into improving detail processes from order placing to material inventory and shipments etc. Shen said he firmly believes all the fruitful rewards from related efforts could be seen in the near future.

Source: CENS