High-end gaming and thin-and-light notebook computers will remain the key high-growth drivers of Thailand's flagging computer sales this year, as consumers shift to impulse shopping from necessity.
"Thailand's computer market is expected to continue contracting, but at less than 3% this year, an improvement from a contraction of 6% and sales of 2.4 million units in 2016," said Jarit Sidhu, research manager of IDC Asia Pacific.
Household computer penetration in Thailand last year reached 55-60%.
The computer market contracted 9% and 8% in compounded annual growth rate between 2012-16 in terms of sales volume and value, respectively, he said.
"We expect the local computer market to swing back into a positive growth path in 2018, thanks to the government's digital-driven projects, including the Thailand 4.0 economic model," said Mr Jarit.
Pornchai Jantarasupasang, director for IT and digital media business of Arip, the organiser of Commart Connect 2017, said he expects intense competition in the gaming computer segment at the event as new players enter the market. The event is scheduled to take place on March 16-19 at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.
Mr Pornchai said the prices of gaming computers have declined significantly to around 30,000 baht apiece, down from 70,000 to over 100,000 baht last year.
Prices of premium thin-and-light notebook computers have also declined from 40,000-50,000 baht to around 30,000 baht.
Arip expects sales of 3 billion baht over its four-day event, equal to last year's figure, he said.