PC shipments at highest level in 4 years as big tech companies 'front-run' Trump's tariffs

The PC supply chain is showing some momentum in a post-tariff world from President Trump, with new data from analyst firm Canalys showing that big US-based tech companies are importing PC products in huge volumes, so much so that they're at a 4-year high.

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US trade policy changes are causing headaches for many, with tech companies including Apple, Dell, HP, and many others importing PC products in mass quantities, with the shipment increased to levels beyond what we saw during the COVID-19 pandemic according to Canalys.

Q1 2025 PC shipments increased by 9.4% to 62.7 million units, with these shipments including desktops, laptops, and workstations, showing that the overall PC supply chain has been eager to dodge the new US tariffs. Wccftech points out that major tech companies have been forcing their suppliers to speed up the production process, with shipment volumes massively increasing, with the site noting that the supply chain has been successful in "front-running" the new policies.

Ishan Dutt, Principal Analyst at Canalys, now part of Omdia said: "PC shipments experienced a surge in Q1 2025, driven by vendors accelerating deliveries to the US in anticipation of initial tariff announcements. This preemptive strategy allowed manufacturers and the channel to stock up ahead of potential cost increases, boosting sell-in shipments despite otherwise stable end-user demand".

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Dutt continued: "This preemptive strategy allowed manufacturers and the channel to stock up ahead of potential cost increases, boosting sell-in shipments despite otherwise stable end-user demand," added Dutt. "Although similar steps are being taken regarding the broader tariffs set to kick in on 9 April 2025, subsequent quarters this year are likely to see a slowdown as inventory levels normalize and customers face higher prices".

Ben Yeh, Senior Analyst at Canalys, added: "Although these major manufacturing countries have been targeted with tariffs, their rates remain relatively competitive compared to China's. Moreover, these countries have shown a willingness to negotiate, raising the possibility that the tariffs may eventually be reduced or waived, while China has responded swiftly with a new round of reciprocal tariffs. As a result, production relocation plans are still ongoing and are unlikely to change significantly before further implementation details are announced".