PC shipments expected to fall in Asia-Pacific region 13.7% in 2026 compared to the previous year, decreasing 106.6 million units in 2025 to 92.0 millionaccording to the International Data Corporation. IDC primarily attributes this decline to a shortage of DRAM and NAND components, driven by increased demand for AI data centers shifting memory supply away from consumer PC manufacturing.
Maciek Gornicki, senior device research manager at IDC Asia-Pacific, explained that “strong demand driven by AI infrastructure is creating significant constraints on the global supply of DRAM and NAND. Memory manufacturers are shifting capacity from consumer electronics to meet growing data center needs.”
Why Asia? Pacific PC shipments increase in 2025, decrease in 2026
The growth estimate for 2025 of 11.6% was driven by several factors: the replacement of older devices, the end-of-support deadline for Windows 10 in October 2025, and large-scale educational deployments across the region. These unique demands are not expected to be repeated in 2026.
With that upgrade cycle almost over, underlying demand has slowed. At the same time, component shortages and rising memory prices are adding to the slowdown on the supply side.
How AI data centers are squeezing consumer DRAM and NAND supply
Memory makers are shifting production capacity toward data center customers, where DRAM produces higher margins than consumer PC components. This shift is reducing the supply of memory available for PC builds, leading to tighter markets and higher component prices across the board.
According to IDC, PC vendors will likely respond by focusing on markets with higher average selling prices to protect their margins. Emerging markets in Southeast Asia are the most vulnerable to the combined effects of supply shortages and price increases, as they rely more on lower-cost devices and have more price-sensitive consumers.
What does the DRAM shortage mean for PC buyers in Asia?Pacific
Rising DRAM prices are impacting both system manufacturers who source components and consumers who purchase pre-built systems. IDC expects the shortage to drive up prices and reduce overall demand through 2026. No specific timeline has been provided for when memory supply constraints could be eased.
In January 2026, IDC noted that the PC market was likely to face challenges throughout the year. The outlook for the Asia-Pacific region aligns with that earlier assessment.
