Lenovo's fiscal Q3 profit up 54 percent, increases China share

Lenovo's profit in its fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31 grew 54 percent year-over-year, as the company saw growth in many key markets

By Michael Kan, Beijing | Friday, 10 February 2012
Lenovo's profit in its fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31 grew 54 percent year-over-year, as the company saw growth in many key markets.

PC shipments increased by 37 percent, the Chinese PC vendor reported on Thursday.

Profit was US$153 million at the end of the quarter, while revenue rose by 44 percent year-over-year to $8.4 billion.

Lenovo's business continues to grow despite a sluggish PC market brought on by uncertain economic conditions, and consumer interest in tablets. The company was rated by research firms Gartner and IDC as the world's second largest PC vendor, surpassing Dell, in the third quarter of 2011.

Lenovo has credited its success to its focus on strengthening its PC business in its home turf in China -- expected to be the world's largest PC market in 2012 -- while also "attacking" emerging markets such as Russia and India. In China, the company said it now had a record 35.3 percent market share.

"In China, you only have to walk around a few blocks and you will be able to find a Lenovo store or service center," said Gartner analyst Eileen He. The company continues to invest in distribution channels not only in China, but also in foreign markets, which helped drive Lenovo's growth, she added.

Lenovo also reported growth in mature markets. The company said its PC shipments in Western Europe and North America increased by 67 percent year-over-year during the quarter.

In its mobile Internet business, which includes tablets and smartphones, Lenovo reported "strong progress". In the fiscal third quarter, the company sold 6.5 million handsets, of which almost half were smartphones.