Smartphones Sales have fallen to its lowest since the invention of smartphones. Research firm Strategy Analytics says smartphone shipments fell by 38% in February 2020.
Data shows how coronavirus spread has affected the electronics supply chain in China and other electronics markets. The report shows Shipments to distributors fell hard in China and across Asia. This is because people stayed at home amidst enforced lockdowns.
The coronavirus outbreak in China has had a huge impact, according to an analyst at Strategy Analytics, Linda Sui.
“Some Asian factories were unable to manufacture smartphones, while many consumers were unable or unwilling to visit retail stores and buy new devices,” she said.
The report shows that smartphone shipments dropped from 99.2 million in February 2019 to 61.8 million in February 2020.
“We started to track the smartphone market back to 2003. This is the biggest ever fall historically,” Sui said.
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In what should have been a key month for smartphones and sales, due to the annual Mobile World Congress showcase, where many new phones were to be unveiled for the first time, February 2020 instead is a month brands would prefer not to repeat.
“February 2020 saw the biggest-ever fall in the history of the worldwide smartphone market,” Neil Mawston, executive director at Strategy Analytics announced.
“Supply and demand of smartphones plunged in China, slumped across Asia, and slowed in the rest of the world. It is a period the smartphone industry will want to forget,” he added.
More trouble ahead?
The firm does not, however, see things changing just yet. It expects the smartphone market to struggle due to the spread of the virus. Millions of customers are currently in lockdowns, with priority shifting to essential items.
Retailers may offer “generous” discounts on to bolster smartphone sales, Strategy Analytics said. However, many don’t think this will be tempting enough.
Until the virus stops spreading worldwide, smartphone manufacturers may have to lick their wounds.
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