TrendForce expects declining global laptop shipments to slow manufacturing exodus from China

What happened

The biggest concern is expected to be the shift from component availability to weakening consumer demand, as manufacturers continue to tackle high CPU (the general-purpose processor at the centre of a computer), DRAM, and SSD prices. The firm also added that if component prices continue to remain on the higher side, brands might pass more of these costs on to consumers.

Notebook shipments are expected to benefit from improved CPU availability and manufacturers stocking up on components in 2026. In its latest industry report, TrendForce has projected that global notebook shipments could witness a decline of a low single-digit percentage in 2027.

Laptop manufacturers are also expected to reconsider their production strategies as rising costs make manufacturing outside China less attractive. The share of global notebook production outside China is projected to fall from 24% in 2025 to 21% in 2026 and potentially below 20% in 2027.