iPhone shipments apparently bounced back sharply in China in recent months. Apple reportedly saw a 52% increase in shipments following heavy discounts by third-party retailers.
Since the beginning of 2024, Apple has seen a double-digit decline in iPhone demand in China. A resurgent Huawei also made things difficult for Apple, as the Chinese company registered a sales growth of 69.9% in the first quarter.
iPhone demand in China is recovering
To boost demand, Apple and retailers ran various promotional offers on iPhones. During the Lunar New Year, Apple discounted iPhones by RMB 800 ($70) on its online store. You could score even higher discounts of up to $200 through other Chinese retailers. In March, Apple increased these discounts to as much as $300 to boost declining sales. This helped Apple to register a modest growth in iPhone sales in China in March.
Data from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology indicates that 3.5 million smartphones were imported into the country in April, 52% higher than before. Apple apparently accounts for the majority of such device imports. Bloomberg reports that the lift in iPhone sales comes as China’s smartphone market sees a recovery in demand.
Chinese retailers prepare for the upcoming 618 shopping event
The numbers only reflect iPhone units imported by Apple into China. They do not equal the units sold by the company or its authorized retailers. However, iPhone sales in the country should get a boost during China’s upcoming 618 shopping day on June 18. Many retailers are already preparing by heavily discounting iPhones.
Most analysts predict iPhone sales will stabilize in China soon, with consumers opting for premium smartphones over budget devices. The discounts from Apple and other third-party retailers should also play a key role.
