Smartphone shipment fell 7 percent last month from a year earlier in the wake of the spread of COVID19, the report showed.
According to market research firm Strategy Analytics, global smartphone shipments reached 10.5 million units last month. Down 7 percent from 17.9 million units a year earlier. The figure decreased 16 percent from 119 million units sold last month.
China’s Huawei and Apple, which have factories in China and have high sales in the region, received the direct hit.
Huawei’s shipments reached 12.2 million units last month, down 39 percent from 19.9 million units a year earlier. The figure also down 14 percent from 14.2 million units sold in December last year. Apple sold 16 million units, down about 38 percent from 25.6 million units the previous month.
In addition, Samsung Electronics’ shipments fell 1 to 2 percent. From the previous month’s 20.3 million units or 20.5 million units sold in the same period last year.
The COVID19 and Smartphone shipment future
Watchers say the aftermath of the COVID19 spread will continue into the first quarter as well as the first half. This is because Samsung Electronics is releasing ‘Galaxy S20’ in March and April. While major companies such as Huawei, Xiaomi, and LG Electronics are focusing on sales of their new flagship smartphones.
The local industry, which has launched the “Galaxy S20” marketing campaign, is putting forward online marketing and “delivery” experiences to minimize damage. Samsung Electronics and the three mobile carriers are indefinitely postponing their previous hands-on events and focusing on marketing using influencers ahead of the release of the Galaxy S20 series.
Meanwhile, the shutdown of local businesses following the spread of confirmed people has also emerged as a variable. An employee of Samsung Electronics Co.’s Gumi operation was confirmed positive of COVID19. And the entire operation temporarily shut down until Monday afternoon. This is where Samsung Electronics mainly produces foldable phones (Galaxy Fold and Galaxy Z Flip) for supply in Korea.
