SHANGHAI, April 27 (Reuters) - Apple Inc and
its Android rivals saw sales slide in the first quarter in
China, research firm Canalys reported on Thursday, as consumers
continued to tighten their belts following the lifting of
COVID-19 restrictions.
The iPhone maker was the top-selling brand over the first
three months of the year, with 20% market share. But its overall
shipments in China fell to 13.3 million units, a 3% decrease
from the same period in 2022.
Sales for all other top-selling brands also fell, with total
smartphone shipments dropping 11% year-on-year to 67.2 million
units, the lowest quarterly total since 2013.
Despite being the best-selling brand in the quarter, Apple
saw its total market share fall 3 percentage points
year-on-year.
Oppo and Vivo, Android brands that trail Apple as the second
and third best-sellers, saw shipments fall 10% and 7%
respectively.
Honor and Xiaomi Corp , which specialize in low-end
models, saw shipments fall 35% and 20% respectively, suggesting
consumers shied away from phone purchases even at the cheapest
prices.
China's GDP grew 4.5% in the first quarter, beating
expectations, and policy makers in Beijing are working on plans
to further stimulate demand. However, economists expect most
Chinese consumers and businesses to spend cautiously over the
coming year.
(Reporting by Josh Horwitz
Editing by Mark Potter)
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.