Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) said it shipped 2.5 million iPhones in China during the month of March, a rebound after one of its worst months ever in February.
Smartphone companies are hoping for a strong recovery in China, where the coronavirus is now subsiding. Mobile phone shipments in China in March totaled 21 million units, according to government data released from Beijing. That was a more than three-fold increase from February, yet still down 20% compared with March 2019.
Chinese retailers largely resumed operations in early March, with brick-and-mortar outlets re-opening and e-commerce logistics starting up again after the virus and containment measures brought much of the economy to a standstill. Apple shipped only 500,000 smart phones in China during February, its lowest level ever in that country.
Apple and other smartphone makers are now hoping that sales in China can cushion declines in other markets over the coming months. Several Chinese online retailers slashed prices on iPhone 11 models. Apple has let third-party sellers in China offer discounts in the past in order to spur demand and drive sales. Apple announces its quarterly earnings results on April 30.
