Marking a significant turnaround in personal computer sales, the desktop PC market clocked 23 lakh (2.3 million) units, registering a 37 per cent growth in 2002-03, compared to a negative growth of 11 per cent last year.

Announcing the results of the information technology hardware industry, Vinnie Mehta, executive director, Manufacturers' Association of IT, said the PC sales had clocked a negative growth of 11 per cent during 2001-02, but the IT consumption witnessed in the first half of 2002-03 gained greater momentum in the second half, resulting in the current growth.

With robust growth prospects, the IT market is expected to grow at 18 per cent during 2003-04 and PC sales are expected to cross 27 lakh (2.7 million) units, Mehta said.

MAIT attributed the turnaround in PC sales to an increase in IT consumption by industry verticals and corporate sectors such as telecom, banking, financial, manufacturing and the IT-enabled services.