Computer maker Dell has reported an 18 per cent drop in net profit to $732 million in the May-July quarter of this fiscal, which saw 30 per cent dip in India revenues — sharpest fall in the Asia-Pacific region.

In the corresponding period a year ago, the company had posted a net profit of $890 million.

Dell follows February-January fiscal year, which ends on the last Friday of the month.

The company’s revenues also dropped 8 per cent to $14.48 billion in the second quarter of FY’13 from $15.65 billion in the year-ago period, Dell said in a statement.

Revenue guidance

The company had guided second quarter revenues to be up 2-4 per cent from the first-quarter levels of $14.42 billion.

Though Dell expects continued “solid growth” in Enterprise Solutions, Services and Software, an uncertain economic environment, competitive dynamics and soft consumer business may impact the third quarter revenues to be down 2-5 per cent from the second quarter levels, it said.

Once the world’s top PC maker, Dell is now struggling to defend its market share against rivals like Acer and Lenovo and tablets like Apple’s iPad.

Revenues hit

Revenue in Americas was down six per cent, while that from EMEA and Asia-Pacific and Japan was down seven per cent 12 per cent, respectively. Revenue in BRIC countries also dipped 15 per cent.

Dell President (Asia-Pacific and Japan) Amit Midha said revenues from India declined 30 per cent, the highest drop in the Asia-Pacific and Japan region, on the back of adverse currency movement.

Revenues from China dipped 14 per cent, while that from Australia and New Zealand dipped six per cent.

“The revenues from all business segments in India declined double digit. Currency has moved 25 per cent in the one year, which clearly impacted us. However, India is a strong market for us and is also a hub for manufacturing, research and development and services for our global business as well,” Midha said on a conference call.

Dell is still the largest player in India in terms of revenue and the performance should improve in the future, he added.

The company, as a strategy, has chosen to not participate in the lower-end (lower priced products) of the market.

“We believe that the strategy to focus on mid and high-end products and deliver quality service to our customers will help us in the coming quarters,” Midha said.

Dell did not participate in the government-funded programme of Tamil Nadu to give laptops to students of state-aided colleges and high schools.

The order is expected to add about 920,000 to total shipments in 2012 and is expected to be a major contributor for an estimated 17 per cent growth to reach 12.5 million units, according to research firm Gartner.

Dell’s revenues in Enterprise Solutions and Services business grew six per cent year-on-year to $4.9 billion and comprised 34 per cent of Dell’s consolidated revenue in the April-June 2012 quarter.

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