Q2 Had Triple-Digit Laptop Growth, Cheaper TVs Amid COVID-19
Amid telework and remote-learning, Q2 laptop and tablet imports soared by triple digits from Q1, according to new Census Bureau data we accessed Sunday through the International Trade Commission. U.S. importers sourced 31.15 million notebooks and tablets under Harmonized Tariff…
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Schedule’s 8471.30.01, a 116% sequential increase and up 15% from the 2019 quarter. Dollar imports were $31.15 billion. China's 28.61 million units were 91.8% of all U.S.-bound shipments, up 124.7% from Q1 when China was starting to rebound from COVID-19 factory shutdowns and supply chain disruptions. TV unit imports under HTS 8528.72.64 were 11.54 million, up 45.7% from Q1 and a 32.9% increase from the 2019 quarter. The average was $219.59, 17.8% cheaper than in Q1 and a 29.8% decrease from the 2019 quarter. ITC's DataWeb keeps TV import records dating to 2007, and we couldn’t find a lower one. Mexico’s diminished role as a key supplier of premium TVs was one factor in the increased commoditization as the country grappled with COVID-19 shutdowns and disruptions for much of April. China was 38.6% of TV imports to the U.S. in Q2, more than double its 17.8% Q1 share. The average TV import with a screen size larger than 45 inches was $313.61. Census began tracking large-screen TV imports under the HTS 8528.72.64.60 in 2016, and we couldn’t find a lower average. Display Supply Chain Consultants President Bob O'Brien emailed Monday that as stay-at-home mandates proliferated, "low-priced TVs did well and high priced TVs did not," he said. "There were TVs bought for kids to do gaming, and for parents to stream, but the need to have the TV as a showcase (like when you're having a Super Bowl party) just evaporated."