Acer is tipped to snare the #3 notebook slot in the world foillowing record global sales. In Australia Acer is powering ahead with stock availability the only issue that will slow it.

Acer has reported record monthly consolidated revenues of $2.2 billion for September, with industry sources now predicting that the company stands a good chance of becoming the world’s number four notebook vendor this year and number three next year. In Australia they are #1 in notebooks with GFK figures showing that Acer may have snared the #1 slot for LCD TVs in the last quarter.

Acer said its September consolidated revenues increased almost 50% from the $1.3 billion it reported for the same period one year earlier due to strong sales in Europe, the US, the Asia-Pacific region, and Greater China. The latest company record represents a 20% rise from August’s $1.07billion.

Accumulated consolidated revenues for the first three quarters reached $8.43 billion, which represents a 38.3% rise from one year-earlier, and the company has achieved 75% of its revenue goal for this year.

Compared to its September revenues last year, Acer said its revenues in Europe grew 55%, while sales grew 157% in the US, 65% in the Asia-Pacific region and 56% in Greater China.

Sources with Taiwan’s notebook makers estimated that Acer will ship 6.2-6.5 million notebooks this year, taking the world’s number four position from Lenovo, which is expected to ship about six million units.

Although Toshiba will remain third this year with shipments of 7-7.5 million units, the sources said the Japan vendor is expected to lose its position to Acer next year. Judging from orders that the two vendors have placed for next year, Acer and Toshiba are expected to ship 9-9.5 million and 8-8.5 million units in 2006, respectively, the sources added.