China’s white-box notebook shipments have a chance to reach 500,000 units per month in the second half of 2009 as more makers join the market, according to market sources in China.

Current monthly shipments are around 200,000 units.

Many local makers of consumer electronics products such as DVD, digital music, and portable media players, and handsets have made moves to cut into the white-box netbook market, meaning total white-box notebook and netbook shipments are likely to top 3.5 million units in 2009, the sources estimated.

However, some sources have offered a more conservative estimate of only two million units in 2009, because current white-box notebooks are unable to meet consumer expectations in regards to quality.

MID product on sale in China

A portable PC