The coronavirus outbreak is taking a toll on Commart, a major computer show and distribution event scheduled for later this week, with two huge retailers pulling out and the venue space shrinking by 20%.
Some computer vendors expect delays in computer shipments over the next three months as Chinese suppliers have yet to reach full production capacity because of the outbreak.
Commart XPro 2020 is scheduled for Bitec from March 5-8, with the virus outbreak shrinking the event.
"We are committed to organising the first-quarter event as earlier planned, but the outbreak situation is quite dynamic," said Pornchai Jantarasupasang, assistant general manager of ARIP, the organiser of the Commart. "We are seeking health resources from hospitals for the event as an extra measure for visitors."
Two major retailers -- Advice and Banana -- have pulled out of the event and some small vendors decided not to attend. There is a 20% reduction in show space, said Mr Pornchai.
There will be 12 major computer brands and printer makers joining the event, where vendors are expected to vastly reduce prices to prop up customer demand, he said.
There is still sufficient computer inventory in the market as orders were placed last year. For new shipments, delays are likely in the next three months because Chinese factories have yet to resume full production, said Mr Pornchai.
Commart saw 2.8 billion baht in sales in the fourth quarter of 2019.
As for this week's event, a 30% drop in sales and visitors would be the best case scenario, he said.
The atmosphere at Commart Work 2019 held at Bitec Bangna. (PR)
Chukkrit Watcharasaksilp, chief of sales and marketing at Advice, said the company decided to pull out and accept the sales opportunity loss out of concern for employees' health.
The company chose to carry out promotions for products online, he said.
SET-listed IT City, a major computer retailer, said the company needs to revise its business performance this year because of the virus outbreak and economic woes.
Sophon Intanate, president of IT City, said the IT market's sales could see a double-digit drop in the first quarter.
The company needs to better manage inventory amid concerns about the shortage of supplies from production disruption in China, he said.
"We estimate if Chinese factories cannot resume their full production, shortages in shipments could be expected in the next 3-5 months," said Mr Sophon.
Nitipat Praweenwongwuthi, marketing director of Acer Computer, said buyers would have the opportunity in this first quarter to get computers with the best promotions, including longer instalment payment from 10 months to 24 months in some selected models.
In the first quarter, domestic computer sales are likely to see a double-digit decline from the same period a year ago.
