Chinese tech giant Xiaomi issued a statement on Thursday saying that it shipped more than 27.5 million smartphones in the first three months of this year—a slight dip from the 27.8 million units shipped in the same period in 2018. The company says that number was generated based on its management accounts.
The smartphone vendor filed this information with the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong to to counter media reports that the company feels are misrepresentative. Xiaomi says it is aware of cases where “several media publications quoted some information from certain market research institutions about our estimated shipment of smartphones in the first quarter of 2019.”
“The information is inaccurate and unfair, and deviates from our actual performance in terms of shipment of smartphones,” said Xiaomi.
Shortly before the company issued its statement, market intelligence firm IDC released a report that predicts on a 6.6% year-on-year decrease in global smartphone shipments in the first quarter of 2019. Chinese media outlets like Sohu reported on its findings.
“Xiaomi also experienced a decline in 1Q19 with volumes of 25.0 million, which was down 10.2% year over year,” said IDC, adding that India was the only country in Asia-Pacific region where the smartphone vendor grew its shipments during the quarter.
IDC also offered numbers for other smartphone brands. Samsung saw volumes drop 8.1% in this quarter compared to the same period in 2018, shipping 71.9 million units, while Apple’s shipments decreased 30.2% year-on-year to 36.4 million units, according to the firm. Neither company has questioned IDC’s data.
The report says that Huawei witnessed year-on-year growth of 50.3% in the first quarter, shipping 59.1 million units.
Xiaomi said in its 2018 annual report that its full-year smartphone sales volume reached 118.7 million units, representing an annual increase of 29.8% against a 4.1% year-on-year decline of global smartphone shipments, citing data from IDC.
Contact the writer at jingli@kr-asia.com
