Based on new market intelligence information, iPhone gross sales in China grew 6% year-over-year in the course of the Chinese language New 12 months interval.
Some level to this as an indication that 2023 would be the yr of post-pandemic restoration for the worldwide smartphone market, whereas others are skeptical about how lengthy this pattern will final…
Counterpoint tracked smartphone gross sales in China in the course of the vacation season centered round Chinese language New 12 months.
In the beginning of 2023, earlier than the beginning of the Chinese language New 12 months season, gross sales surged to over 7 million every week.
In 4 out of 5 weeks, gross sales remained above 6 million. This stage was hardly ever reached in his 2022, when a pandemic plagued Chinese language cities at occasions. Common weekly gross sales in the course of the interval have been 6.7 million models, nicely above the 2022 common of 5.5 million models. Month-to-month gross sales in January have been flat in comparison with the identical month in 2022, which marked the best variety of gross sales in 2022, however elevated by greater than 40% in sequence.
By way of iPhone gross sales in China, Apple maintained its market management place and noticed some progress from the identical interval in 2022.
Preliminary information confirmed that Apple remained China’s largest OEM by gross sales share in January, with gross sales up about 6% year-on-year.
Some have steered that this yr can be a restoration interval for the smartphone sector, because the pandemic’s influence on each provide and demand has lastly gotten over. I feel it is nothing greater than
Some consider that is because of the slowdown in demand since December and the earlier-than-usual arrival of the Chinese language New 12 months season, quite than a major enchancment on the demand facet.
Supporting this concept is the truth that many distributors are cautious of wholesale purchases. Previously, we have been caught with solely very excessive ranges of stock left on the cabinets.
However Counterpoint is considerably optimistic, believing the top of China’s failed COVID-zero coverage means there can be much less probability of supply-side constraints. It maintains its view that the market will develop year-over-year, however expects this progress to be within the low single digits.
Apple continues to work laborious to scale back its manufacturing reliance on China, however the newest experiences from India recommend issues aren’t going nicely.
Photograph: Apple Changsha / Apple
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