In 2023, the global mobile phone shipment volume declined by 3.2%, apparently unable to completely recover from the prolonged downturn in the consumer electronics market in recent times. However, as the world's largest mobile phone market, China experienced a reverse growth in mobile phone shipments by 6.5%, indicating signs of recovery, based on the latest statistics from the Chinese government
According to the latest statistical report from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, the overall mobile phone shipments in China grew by 6.5% in 2023, reaching 289 million units. Among them, the shipment volume of 5G phones increased by 11.9% to reach 240 million units, accounting for 82.8% of the total shipments.
During the same period, the shipment volume of domestically produced Chinese brand phones grew by 1.1% to reach 231 million units, constituting 79.9% of the total shipments. Furthermore, the number of newly launched models throughout the year grew by 4.3% to reach 441 models. Among them, the number of new 5G phone models decreased by 2.7%, totaling 214 models, representing 48.5% of the overall new model count.
During the same period, Chinese domestic brand phone models grew by 5.5% to reach 406 models, constituting 92.1% of the overall new model count.
The South China Morning Post commented that compared to the sharp decline of 22.6% in 2022, with only 272 million units remaining, the 6.5% year-on-year growth in China's mobile phone shipments in 2023 indicates signs of recovery in the Chinese mobile phone industry, despite the turbulent economic recovery period in recent times.
In addition, Huawei, a major Chinese mobile phone manufacturer affected by US sanctions, launched the Mate 60 Pro 5G in August 2023, equipped with a self-developed high-end processor. This move signifies Huawei's return to competing in the high-end mobile phone market and is largely seen as a symbol of China's capability to break through technological barriers, sparking a wave of local consumer enthusiasm for mobile phone purchases.
According to the market research firm IDC's previous estimation, the global mobile phone shipment volume is expected to decrease by 3.2% in 2023, reaching only 1.17 billion units, the lowest in the past decade. In such a scenario, China's return to growth as the world's largest mobile phone market is a significant highlight. Moreover, IDC analysts predict that even if the overall economic environment continues to face headwinds, the Chinese mobile phone market is expected to continue growing throughout the year 2024.
