The world's second-largest computer maker Dell Inc said its shipments grew 28 percent in China last year.

 

Michael Dell, founder and chief executive of Dell, told reporters at a press conference in Beijing that the company purchased $23 billion worth of products from China in 2008.

 

He said the number will increase 26 percent to $29 billion this year as Dell needs to further reduce costs amid the global economic slowdown.

 

China is Dell's second largest market, and contributed about 5 percent of Dell's global revenue, according to Amit Midha, president of Dell China.

 

He said 15 Dell products have been included in the Chinese government's program to encourage IT product sales in rural areas.

 

Slowed by the global economic recession, PC shipments in China are expected to grow at a historic low of 3 percent in 2009, according to a recent report from US research firm IDC, which predicted that the market would see a rebound in 2010 when the growth rate will surge to 16 percent.