Tablet shipments expected to reach 200 million by the end of the year

Market research firm ABI Research predicts that tablet shipment is expected to reach 200 million units by end of 2014, which will mark a 20 percent increase in sales for the year. The report also stated it’s the developing markets that will be adding to the numbers this year, given the saturation that the more matured markets have already reached. As such, the bulk of new tablet sales in 2014 are predicted to come from the regions of Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America.

ABI Research said on Thursday that it expects a 20 percent growth in tablet shipments this year over 2013. The firm expects “branded tablet shipments,” those made by major manufacturers, to surpass 200 million units this year, up from 166 million units shipped during 2013. The increase is expected to occur as new markets like Latin America, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa begin purchasing more of the devices. Those areas will join mature tablet markets like North America, Western Europe, Japan and South Korea, ABI Research said. New tablets with Intel chips will also help drive growth.