According to official data released by the Chinese Communist Party on Friday, foreign brand smartphones saw a slight increase in shipments in China in April, with Apple Inc.’s iPhone holding a significant position among them.
Based on statistics from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), the shipment volume of foreign brand smartphones in China reached 3.52 million units in April, slightly higher than the 3.5 million units during the same period last year, with an increase of around 0.6%. This marks the first positive change after a drastic drop of nearly 50% in shipment volume in March.
As the largest foreign manufacturer in the Chinese smartphone market, Apple plays a crucial role in the overall sales data of this category of products. In the first quarter of this year, Apple’s smartphone sales in China declined by 9% year-on-year, facing fierce competition from local brands such as Huawei and vivo.
To maintain its market share, Apple launched a significant price reduction strategy in early April, offering discounts of up to 2,530 yuan (about $351) on the iPhone 16 series models on major e-commerce platforms in China. This promotional measure is considered a key factor driving the sales rebound in April.
However, the market outlook remains uncertain. According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), the expected growth in global smartphone shipments for 2025 has been revised down from 2.3% to just 0.6%, mainly due to tariff uncertainties and weakened consumer spending. The Chinese market is expected to achieve around 3% growth, partially benefiting from government subsidies for Android devices, while Apple may face a 1.9% decline in annual sales risk due to not meeting some subsidy conditions.
Amid slow progress in U.S.-China trade negotiations, in a move to reduce reliance on Chinese manufacturing, Apple is accelerating the setup of production lines in India and Vietnam. However, the U.S. government is considering imposing a 25% tariff on iPhones produced overseas, which could further pressure Apple’s global operations.
On May 23, U.S. President Trump demanded that Apple produce iPhones in the United States, or face at least a 25% tariff. Apple’s stock price fell by 3.7% in pre-market trading on that day.