Apple growing overseas but facing challenges

As U.S. demand for personal computers craters, Apple Inc (AAPL.O) is getting a boost from overseas PC sales, where iPods are hugely popular but Macs have not been a major presence.

Although analysts see the international market as fertile ground for Macs, they say the growth momentum may be tough to maintain due to the spreading economic gloom, Mac's higher price point and smaller retail distribution network.

Mac shipments in the December quarter grew 16 percent internationally and a mere 2 percent in the United States. Mac sales made up more than 40 percent of Apple's revenue in fiscal 2008.

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