CES: Global Tech Shipments to Top $1.1 Trillion in 2013

Smartphones and tablets will be two largest categories in U.S. with $37 billion in sales this year, reports the CEA

By George Winslow -- Broadcasting & Cable, 1/6/2013 9:07:49 PM

Complete Coverage: CES 2013

The Consumer Electronics Association reported mixed prospects for the consumer tech market in 2013, with smartphones and tablets seeing significant growth while a number of traditional categories like TVs and laptops seeing declines.

Overall, the CEA is predicting a modest 4% increase in the global value of shipments to $1.106 billion, up from the $1.058 billion in 2012, when shipments actually declined by 1%.

The group delivered its prognosis during two opening press conferences in Las Vegas on Jan. 6 at the 2013 International CES show, which will run through Jan. 11.

The North American market is expected to do slightly better with a 3% growth in sales in 2013, up from 1% in 2012.

But Europe is likely to decline and much of the global growth will come from emerging markets and sales of smartphones and tablets.

CEA predicted that tablets and smartphones would be in a virtual dead heat to be the largest single consumer electronics category in the U.S. in 2013.

Both smartphones and tablets are expected to have about $37 billion in sales in the U.S.

Globally, the value of tablet shipments are expected to grow 25% in 2013 compared to a 60% growth in 2012.

Smartphone shipments should see a 22% pop in 2013, compared to a 38% increase in 2012.

Meanwhile, the value of shipments for plasma TVs will drop 29% while LCD TVs will decline by 2% in 2013. PC and mobile PC shipments will also decline.

The analysis also found that the growing popularity of tablets was cannibalizing sales of smaller TV sets, which continue to decline, game consoles and digital cameras.

In contrast, sales of TVs with larger screens continue to increase, with jumbo sets larger than 60 inches now accounting for around 8% to 9% of U.S. TV set sales.

The CEA noted that Ultra HD will get considerable attention at this year's show, some 10 manufacturers displaying around 50 models during the show. 

But Ultra HD will take years to gain consumer traction, given the high cost of sets and lack of content. The CEA is predicting sales of only 23,000 units in 2013, rising to around 1.4 million in 2016.