[News] Continued Slump in iPhone Demand in China – February Shipments Reportedly Plunge by 33%

---

---

In the Chinese market, demand for Apple’s iPhone continues to falter, with Bloomberg reporting a significant 33% drop in iPhone shipments in February compared to the same month last year. As per Bloomberg’s report on March 26th, despite China remains Apple’s most crucial overseas market, iPhone demand in China has remained consistently low.

According to official data cited in the report, iPhone shipments in the Chinese market have plummeted by 33% in February compared to the same period last year, marking the second consecutive month of decline. Influenced by the later timing of the Lunar New Year compared to 2023, overseas smartphone shipments in February were said to be only around 2.4 million units, with iPhones accounting for a significant portion.

Apple is reportedly the only overseas manufacturer with a substantial market share in China. Data from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) shows that iPhone shipments in January were approximately 5.5 million units, marking a significant 39% decline compared to the same month last year.

Still, a report from The Wall Street Journal on March 22 has highlighted that intensified competition with Chinese manufacturers like Huawei has led to tough sales competition for Apple’s iPhone in China.

Thus, the same report from Wall Street Journal indicated that Apple is in talks with Baidu to potentially integrate Baidu’s generative AI services into its own products, including iPhones, for the Chinese market. While the agreement is still in its early stages, incorporating a Chinese version of AI could potentially give Apple a competitive edge in the Chinese market.