Demand for cheap notebook computers in Brazil is confounding the global economic downturn. US-based Data Consultants forecasts a 15.8% rise in Brazilian sales this year compared with 2008, on volume turnover of 4.7 billion units.

Taiwan manufacturing giants ASUS and MSI plan to capitalise by setting up manufacturing operations to develop the market.

While ASUS plans to market its name in Brazil for the first time, MSI will start outsourcing production during the current quarter, according to sources.........