Memory shortage fuels global PC, smartphone supply crunch, boosting refurbished IT demand

Global PC shipments fell 4.9% year‑on‑year in Q2 2026, the first decline after nine quarters of growth, as a worldwide memory shortage and higher component costs press the market. IDC forecasts average PC prices could rise 18.3% in 2026 and predicts an 11.3% drop in PC shipments and a 13.9% drop in smartphone shipments for the year. Lenovo remained the largest PC supplier with 16.6 million units (24.4% market share), while HP, Dell and Apple saw volumes fall or modest growth.

Industry executives attribute the shortfall to high demand for memory and processors for AI applications. Jitesh Ubrani of IDC said, “Given worsening macro conditions and a memory shortage that isn’t expected to ease until early 2028, we don’t expect another round of inventory pull‑forward.” Companies such as Apple, HP and Dell reported rising component costs and ongoing supply constraints.

The supply squeeze is reshaping U.S. import patterns: China’s share of U.S. PC imports dropped from 92% in 2022 to 19% in 2025, with Vietnam now supplying 60%. Smartphone imports show a similar shift, with India rising to 39% of U.S. sources in 2025. The tighter market and higher pricing are prompting businesses to extend equipment refresh cycles and consider refurbished PCs and related office technology to control capital expenditure.