by David Kerr

Strategy Analytics updated smartphone shipment forecast numbers from the previous version published on March 2, 2020, given the latest available info and the escalating and global pandemic situation.

We further lower 2020 global and China smartphone shipment forecast numbers in this version, considering the rapid spread into more countries and the big impact on global economy.

The global smartphone market will ship -25% fewer smartphones than expected in 2020, due to the fear and “paralysis” caused by coronavirus. China smartphone shipments will be -16% less than expected in 2020. All regions will see an double digit annual decline rate this year. All industry stakeholders need to plan for a very soft and tough 2020.

No one wins. All OEMs will ship less smartphones this year, leading by Samsung, Apple, Huawei, OPPO, vivo and Xiaomi etc.

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Strategy Analytics was one of the world’s first mobile research houses to spot the looming disaster of Covid-19, in January 2020.

The firm had previously reported that global smartphone shipments tumbled 38 percent year-on-year in the month of February, 2020.  That was the biggest fall ever in the history of the worldwide smartphone market.

Linda Sui, Director at Strategy Analytics, said, “Global smartphone shipments tumbled a huge 38 percent annually from 99.2 million units in the month of February, 2019, to 61.8 million in February, 2020. Smartphone demand collapsed in Asia last month, due to the Covid-19 outbreak, and this dragged down shipments across the world. Some Asian factories were unable to manufacture smartphones, while many consumers were unable or unwilling to visit retail stores and buy new devices.”

Neil Mawston, Executive Director at Strategy Analytics, added, “February 2020 saw the biggest fall ever in the history of the worldwide smartphone market. 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.”

Yiwen Wu, Senior Analyst at Strategy Analytics, added, “Despite tentative signs of recovery in China, we expect global smartphone shipments overall to remain weak throughout March, 2020. The coronavirus scare has spread to Europe, North America and elsewhere, and hundreds of millions of affluent consumers are in lockdown, unable or unwilling to shop for new devices. The smartphone industry will have to work harder than ever to lift sales in the coming weeks, such as online flash sales or generous discounts on bundling with hot products like smartwatches.”

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About Strategy Analytics

Strategy Analytics is a global, independent research and consulting firm. The company is headquartered in Boston, USA, with offices in the UK, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, India and China. Visit www.strategyanalytics.com for more information.

Americas Contact:
Linda Sui / +1 617 614 0735 / [email protected]