"Tablet frenzy" hits Southeast Asia: GfK

GfK retail tracking showed more than 1.6 million tablets were brought in Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam in 2011. It said the market is now worth US$962 million.

Despite the strong growth in Indonesia, GfK said Malaysia remains the biggest market for tablets in the region, ending 2011 with the highest sales total of US$374 million.

Gerard Tan, account director for digital technology at GfK Asia, said tablet sales are definitely taking off in Southeast Asia, with the markets registering “exponential growth” in 2011.

He said, “In Indonesia, several key manufacturers were successful in stepping up their marketing and distribution efforts nearing the end of last year, as evident in the steep sales surge in the last quarter.”