Why laptops may become more expensive in Nigeria

Nigerian consumers may face even higher prices for laptops as a global shortage of memory chips drives up manufacturing costs. This development comes as the global PC market experiences its first decline in over two years, raising concerns for countries like Nigeria that depend heavily on imported computer hardware.

The International Data Corporation (IDC) reported a 4.9% year-on-year drop in global PC shipments to 68.2 million units in the second quarter of 2026. This marks the end of nine consecutive quarters of growth. IDC attributes the decline not to reduced demand, but primarily to the ongoing scarcity of memory chips, which has slowed production and increased costs.

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The industry is witnessing an unusual trend in which shipment volumes are falling while revenues continue to rise because manufacturers are passing increased production costs on to consumers.

Computer manufacturers are passing these increased production expenses onto consumers, leading to a situation where shipment volumes are falling while revenues are rising. IDC Research Director Jitesh Ubrani noted that the memory shortage is expected to persist, with vendors anticipating further price hikes due to persistent supply constraints.

Larger PC manufacturers are better positioned to navigate this shortage due to their greater purchasing power and established supplier relationships. Smaller manufacturers and distributors are more vulnerable. HP Inc. has previously warned that rising memory chip costs and supply issues could continue to affect the global PC market through 2027. While IDC did not provide specific figures for Nigeria, analysts predict that nations with high import dependence for computers will disproportionately bear the impact of these supply chain disruptions.

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Larger PC manufacturers are better positioned to weather the shortage because of their stronger purchasing power and long-standing supplier relationships, leaving smaller manufacturers and distributors more exposed.