Apple iPhone sales recover in China

Apple's sales in China returned to growth in the second quarter, marking the first time in two years of stagnation, according to a report from Counterpoint Research.

Apple is gradually regaining growth momentum in China – one of its key markets – after a period of sluggish sales. This is a positive sign for Apple's efforts to improve business in the world's most populous country.

According to data from Counterpoint Research, iPhone sales in China increased 8% year-on-year in the second quarter of this year. This is the first time Apple has recorded growth in this market since the second quarter of 2023.

The growth momentum came from attractive promotions in May, when domestic e-commerce platforms simultaneously reduced the price of iPhone 16. At the same time, Apple also raised the trade-in price for some iPhone models, helping to attract users to upgrade.

“Apple made a very timely move by adjusting iPhone prices in May, right before the 618 shopping festival, and the market response was extremely positive,” said Ethan Qi, Associate Director at Counterpoint.

The 618 shopping festival is held every June in China, an occasion for e-commerce platforms to launch a series of promotions and deep discounts to stimulate consumer demand. This is also an opportunity for major brands, including Apple, to significantly boost sales in this competitive market.

Apple is slowly regaining growth momentum in China

However, Apple is currently facing many major challenges. In the past, former US President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Apple products and pressured CEO Tim Cook to move iPhone production to the US - something many experts consider difficult to do.

On the other hand, the Chinese market has also become an increasingly difficult business environment for Apple, especially after the strong comeback of Huawei. This domestic brand was heavily affected by US sanctions but recovered quickly by the end of 2023.

The highlight of Huawei's comeback is the launch of a smartphone using advanced chips developed by China itself - something analysts had doubted its ability to do in the context of technology restrictions from the West.

Since its recovery, Huawei has been steadily launching new devices in China and gradually re-entering international markets, steps that have helped it regain some of the market share it once held back by Apple in its home market.

Huawei's smartphone sales grew 12% year-on-year in the last quarter, according to data from Counterpoint Research. The company is now the market leader in China, followed by Vivo and Apple.

Counterpoint expert Ivan Lam commented that Huawei is still effectively exploiting the loyalty of its long-time users, as they tend to upgrade to the company's new phone models.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/apple-phuc-hoi-doanh-so-iphone-o-trung-quoc-320036.html