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INDIA-SAMSUNG-XIAOMI-SHARE
Samsung, Xiaomi corner 60 pc share of India’s smartphone mkt in Q2:
Canalys
New Delhi, Jul 20, 2018 (BSS/PTI) – Chinese handset maker Xiaomi and
Korea’s Samsung shipped about 10 million units each in the April-June 2018
quarter, and cumulatively accounted for 60 per cent share of India’s
smartphone market, research firm Canalys today said.
Overall, smartphone shipments grew by 22 per cent in the said quarter to
just under 33 million units. Together, the two companies now account for 60
per cent of total shipments in India, up from 43 per cent a year ago, Canalys
said in a statement.
“Xiaomi more than doubled its shipments, albeit from a modest base, just
putting it in first place. Samsung’s annual growth rate, at nearly 50 per
cent, was the best it has been since Q4 2015, leaving it hair’s breadth
behind Xiaomi in second place,” it added.
Vivo took third place, while Oppo came fourth, with shipments of 3.6
million and 3.1 million, respectively.
Samsung is hitting back. It has launched devices pitted directly against
Xiaomi’s portfolio and is focusing on its cameras and imaging
capabilities…,” Canalys Analyst TuanAnh Nguyen said. Canalys pointed that
Apple’s iPhone shipments to India fell by about 50 per cent in June 2018
quarter.
“But Apple’s paring back of distributor partners and move to a brand-first,
volume-next’ strategy will reap rewards as it will ensure better margin per
device,” it said.
Canalys noted that despite ongoing consolidation at the top, smaller
vendors are not giving up and “continue to rewrite their business strategies
with a view to long-term sustainability and profitability”.
It cited the example of Asus, which has recently restructured its India
strategy. Oppo has launched an online-only brand, Realme. Volume is not the
only strategy in India…The climate is right for businesses to realign and
re-enter the market,” Canalys Research Manager Rushabh Doshi said. Getting
priorities right will be important to smartphone vendors, and it will be a
choice between profitability and volume growth, Doshi said.
BSS/PTI/HR/1200