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MARKET & TECHNOLOGY TRENDS 9% RISE IN WORLDWIDE CE SALES FORECAST BY GFK FOR 2008 LATEST RESULTS PUBLISHED AT IFA BY GFK SHOW CONTINUED BOUYANCY By Emmanuel Poidevin Western Europe: Consumer electronics/hardware, turnover by countries Sales Value in % 1. Half of 2008 vs. 1. Half of 2007 Turnover by Countries in % GB: in local currency 22 Great Britain Germany 2 21 21 France Spain 1 -4 Italy 0 17 Netherlands 12 11 Belgium -5 11 7 3 3 3 2 1. Half of 2008 Switzerland Sweden Austria -1 13 13 Growth (on Euro basis in %) Western Europe: +2% TV/Video/Hifi/Portable Audio/In Car Electronics According to the latest figures from the continuously updated survey by GfK Retail Tracking across 73 countries, the global market for consumer electronics goods is continuing to expand. Consumer spending on audio, video, photographic, IT and telecommunications devices is forecast to rise by 9% to EUR 462 billion (USD 680 billion) this year. Asia is the fastest-growing region, with 17% sales growth being driven primarily by expansion in China. The other main growth centres are the three BRIC countries, Brazil, Russia and India. The Western European and North American markets are expected to reach around 2% and 5% growth respectively. The three most important product categories – TVs, PCs and mobile phones – are expanding strongly, with mobile phone sales increasing by 14% a year, TVs by 11% and consumer PCs by 10% in value terms. In each of these categories, which together make up some 65% of the total market, growth is being driven by innovation in the form of products such as smartphones and flatscreen TVs, and by the continued shift from desktop PCs to notebooks. Other smaller product categories are contributing to the positive overall picture. In particular, worldwide volume sales of portable navigation devices are forecast to grow by 49% this year. Focus on Western Europe Western European consumers spent 2% more on consumer electronics in the first half of 2008 than in the same period last year. Once again, the fastest-growing product was flat screen TVs, sales of which increased by 14%, but the whole of the consumer electronics sector is profiting from consumer demand for high-end, high-specification products. …/ Cont’d. Page 11 IFA International • Tuesday, 2 nd September 2008 www.ifa-international.org 9
