Gadgets sales up 7% to S$956m

Thanks to Telecom sector's 50% growth.

According to a study by GfK TEMAX, the overall Singapore technical consumer (TCG) goods market saw growth in sales in Q2 2012 compared to Q2 2011. Telecommunication (Telco), Information Technology (IT) and Major Domestic Appliances (MDA) posted healthy double digit increases while the remaining sectors recorded negative growth.

The Singapore TCG market in the second quarter of 2012 recorded total earnings of S$956 million which, when compared to Q2 2011, translates to a growth of 7%. However, the first half year performance of this market in 2012 largely remained stable, with the Telecommunication sector making good returns against the first half of 2011.

Here's more from GkK TEMAX:

Telecommunication: Overall sector sees strong performance
With double digit growth in Q2 2012 compared to the same period in 2011, the Telco sector registered slightly more than 50% in Q2 2012. The smartphones segment proved to be the star turn of this sector, which continues to erode into the feature phone segment. Full-touch screen models driven by Android operating system continued to hold a strong appeal among consumers.

Information Technology: Close to 10% growth
As the largest sector in value terms in the Singapore market, the IT sector garnered a slight 9% growth in total earnings. Although major products like Personal Computers and Monitors posted negative growth, the market saw All-In-One models experience positive growth in units and value. Double digit growth was seen in other segments like Keying and Storage and especially for Webbooks, which performed well with growth of 92%, and accounted for 41% of all IT products sold.

Major Domestic Appliances: Growth maintains in Q2 12
Compared to the decline in the Major Domestic Appliances sector in Q1 2012, the sector recorded a better performance in Q2 when compared to same period last year. Tumble Dryers were the only products to decline while the biggest segment, refrigerators, garnered only 3% growth while microwave ovens and washers registered more than 5% growth.

Small Domestic Appliances: Weak performance
Most segments declined, except for shavers, which garned a growth of 7%. Beard trimmers, body groomers, epilators and nose/ear trimmers were among the popular products which posted double digit growth in sales value in Q2 2012 when compared to last year. However, the growth of shavers barely helped buffer the decline in the overall sector.

Photo: 13% decline in sales in Q2 2012
The Photo sector experienced a slight decline of almost 13% in Q2 2012 against Q2 2011 – a result of declines in sales across all products tracked by TEMAX.

Office Equipment and Consumables: Multifunctional devices fall 24%
Multifunction devices suffered a 24% decline, while Printers endured a decline of 4% in Q2 2012 compared to Q2 2011. The Q2 2012 Office Equipment and Consumables sector registered a 15% decline from Q2 2011, with transactions amounting to S$22 million.
The half year performance recorded a 10% decline over the same period last year.

Consumer Electronics: Negative growth across all segments
Sales of the CE sector declined by some 20% in Q2 2012 compared to Q2 2011. Despite the overall shrinking market, there is gradual demand for bigger LED screens above 55”, where units and value witnessed a single-digit growth for H1 2012 over the same period last year. While most segments registered negative sales, memory cards managed to record a positive result, 11% growth compared to 2011.