COVID-19 Work and School Rituals Sent Q3 Laptop Imports Soaring 29%
Demand for connectivity tools to fill remote work and learning needs fueled torrid third-quarter import growth in laptops and tablets, according to Census Bureau statistics accessed Oct. 7 through the International Trade Commission’s DataWeb portal. Q3 brought healthy import growth to smartphones compared with Q2, but unit shipments lagged behind those of 2019's third quarter, consistent with forecasts showing 2020 unit declines from a year earlier. Vietnam solidified its position in both categories as a secondary country of origin to China.
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U.S. importers sourced 34.26 million laptops and tablets from all countries in Q3, an increase of 10% from Q2 and a notable 28.6% jump from third-quarter 2019, DataWeb data said. Q3 dollar imports of $14.3 billion were 5.1% higher than in Q2, but up a stunning 31.8% from a year earlier. The category took a modest turn toward commodity product in the quarter. The average import was valued at $417.40, nearly 5% cheaper than in Q2, but up 2.6% from the 2019 quarter.
China was the source of 90.1% of laptop and tablet imports in the quarter, down slightly from its share in Q2 and Q3 2019, DataWeb said. The U.S. sourced 30.97 million Chinese devices in Q3, up 8.2% from Q2 and up 24.5% from a year earlier. The average Chinese product was valued at $425.61, increasing 4.2% from Q2 and 4% year over year.
Vietnam was the source of 6.4% of all laptop and tablet imports to the U.S. in Q3, two points higher than in the year-earlier quarter, DataWeb showed. U.S. importers sourced 2.19 million devices from Vietnam in Q3, 41.4% more than in Q2, but 10% fewer than in Q3 2019. Commodity product remained the linchpin of Vietnamese imports, though Q3 shipments took a noticeable turn upmarket. The average Vietnamese device was worth $199.64, up 6.6% from Q2 and 20.9% higher than in the 2019 quarter.
U.S. importers sourced 49.02 million smartphones from all countries in the third quarter, for a 21.7% increase from Q2, DataWeb indicated. But unit imports declined 8.9% from the 53.83 million smartphones shipped here in Q3 2019. Dollar imports of $11.67 billion were 20% higher than in Q2, but down 14.1% year over year. The average Chinese smartphone was at a $251.41 value in the quarter, 1.5% cheaper than in Q2 and down 5.8% year over year.
China was the source of 73.9% of all smartphone imports to the U.S. in Q3, consistent with its year-earlier share, but down 1.7 points from Q2, DataWeb showed. China sent 36.25 million smartphones here in the quarter, up 19.1% from Q2, but 8% fewer than in the 2019 quarter. The average Chinese handset was worth $251.41, down 4.4% from Q2 and 8% cheaper than a year earlier.
Vietnam held its standing in Q3 as the world’s largest haven for commodity smartphones, DataWeb said. The average Vietnamese handset in Q3 was valued at $197.17, more than $54 cheaper than its average Chinese counterpart. U.S. importers sourced 10.24 million Vietnamese smartphones in the quarter, for a 41% increase from Q2, but a 10% decline year over year.