EnSmartphone imports in late spring are traditionally slow – this year buyers await new products from Apple, and Samsung’s Galaxy updates are not yet available. New devices are needed to excite the market. Market forecaster IDC expects mobile phone shipments globally to slow to 3.1% in 2016, with the U.S. growing at a low-single digit rate.
So, are phone shipments still rising, and if so who is winning?
The answer to the first question is that they are actually falling. Panjiva data for HTS code 8517.12 shows a 3.2% fall in terms of units imported to the U.S. in May, and a similar level for the year to May 30, vs. a year earlier. Volatility on a monthly basis reflects pre-holiday shipments as well as new product launches. The all-time high import of 29.48 million units coincided with the launch of the iPhone 6 in September 2014, with the previous peak being the introduction of the iPhone 5 in 2012.
U.S. PHONE IMPORTS SLOWING – NEW IPHONE NEEDED
Source: Panjiva
When looking for winners in a weak market, Samsung appears to be ahead. Both Apple Computer and Samsung Electronics produce most of their phones outside of the U.S., alongside other major manufacturers such as LG Electronics and ZTE Corp.
The fastest growing exporter to the U.S. is Vietnam, partly reflecting the newly opened Samsung factory there. When combined with South Korea, the ‘Samsung-focussed’ South Korea and Vietnam suggests the company has exported 47.3% more phones in May (or 3.635 million units) vs. a year earlier, or a 72% rise in 2016 so far vs. a year earlier.
SAMSUNG LEADING THE PACK AS S.KOREA, VIETNAM SHIPMENTS RISE
Source: Panjiva
This post was first published in the Panjiva Daily, which features global trade news and data-driven insights and is free for all Panjiva subscribers. To find out more email sales@panjiva.com.
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- On August 25th, Apple received a shipment described as “Set Top Box with Communication Function” from BYD Precision Manufacture in Shenzhen, China.
- On August 18th, Apple received another shipment, again from BYD, described as “Set Top Boxes.”
- And on August 11th, Apple received its first shipment from BYD of “Set Top Box with Communication Function.”
So what are these set top boxes?
A) Apple’s long rumored TV-focused product
B) A new version of the old school Apple TV
C) Something that’s not particularly interesting, but that has an interesting description to throw us all off
A few notes to help you make up your mind:
- About a year and a half ago, news broke that BYD was a new supplier to Apple.
- Since then, we’ve only seen four shipments from BYD to Apple — the three described above, as well as one shipment described as “PC Portable” on August 18th of this year.
- The August 25th shipment weighed 16,628 kilograms.
- The August 18th shipment also weighed 16,628 kilograms.
- The August 11th shipment weighed 7,044 kilograms.
- Apple has received previous shipments for “set top boxes” — most recently, on December 5, 2012, from Hon Hai. This shipment consisted of old school Apple TV’s, as indicated by the model number listed on the bill of lading: A1427.
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