Except for North America, which has suffered from the subprime mortgage crisis, notebook PC demand remained strong in other regions in the first quarter of 2008, especially China, where demand for notebook PCs was especially vigorous. Some shipments were affected due to production shortages caused by the fire at LGC's battery factory in March this year. However, as PC brands raised their shipment targets, they strengthened their relationships with key component suppliers, while battery makers and ODM (Original Design Manufacturing) makers still had sufficient inventory to meet notebook PC demand in the first quarter of 2008. PC brands were therefore able to approach the shipment targets in the first quarter.  Greater Chinese notebook PC shipment volume is estimated to have reached 25.1 million units in the first quarter of 2008, up 35.6% year-on-year.