(Yicai Global) Jan. 6 -- China's personal computer market will increase 10.7 percent this year in growth for the second straight year propelled by strong demand for online education and smart office functions and from government agencies, according toUS-based market intelligence firm International Data Corp.'s China unit.

The pandemic accelerated growing demand for online learning, per a report IDC China published today. Shipments of PCs used to aid learning of the country's primary and secondary school students will reach 8.8 million units this year, about six times the demand in the sector last year and nearly one-third of total PC market demand.

PC vendors will unveil laptops tailored for primary and middle school students with steady growth in this market later, it added. By 2023, over 10 percent of laptops will support touch control, 10 percent will enable vocal communication and 7 percent visual interaction, as young consumers are used to multiple interactive modes.

The increasing number of digital-native firms is also a key factor pushing up PC demand, with an over 20 percent gain in demand from such firms expected in 2021, the report said. Digital-native firm refers to a business that was born in the internet era and engages in digital economic activities.

China's PC shipments fell by 28.1 percent on the year in 2020's first quarter before posting a roughly 10 percent annual gain in each of the following three quarters to realize a 1.7 percent full-year growth, the first increase after eight straight years of decline in a roller coaster ride amid Covid-19, the report said.

The PC market, which is relatively mature, has faced a slew of changes in recent years, Antonio Wang,associate vice president forIDC China'sClient System Research, noted in the report. For example, vendors represented by communication equipment giant Huawei Technologies have joined the competition and the proportion of e-commerce in marketing systems keeps rising. More disruptive changes will arrive in the market later, Wang predicts.

Editor: Ben Armour, Xiao Yi