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MANAMA: Newly released data from IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker shows that shipments of mobile phones to the GCC region declined 0.8 per cent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) in Q1-2022 to 6.10 million units.
Smartphone shipments were up 0.4pc QoQ to 5.47m units, while feature phone shipments decline 9.8pc over the same period to 0.63m units. In terms of value, the GCC smartphone market was worth $2.09 billion in Q4-2021, a decrease of 4.5pc QoQ, while the feature phone market totalled $11.16m, down 25.9pc.
Samsung and Xiaomi channels reported improved supply across the GCC for the quarter.
Samsung saw its most significant growth in the low ($100<$200) and premium ($800+) ends of the market, while Xiaomi saw growth in the midrange to high-end category ($200<$600). Apple faced shortages stemming from delayed shipments, which impeded the vendor’s overall unit and value growth during the quarter.
Smartphone shipments to Saudi Arabia declined 4.9pc QoQ in Q1-2022, although the country still accounted for 53.3pc of all smartphone shipments to the GCC.
The UAE, the region’s second-largest market, saw shipments increase 11.2pc QoQ for 24.9pc share.
Samsung led the GCC smartphone market in terms of shipments in Q1-2022 with 47.5pc share
“Q1 2022 saw a drop in shipments to Saudi Arabia with partners reporting excess inventory in the channel and lagging demand,” says Akash Balachandran, a senior analyst at IDC.
“However, the ‘Other GCC’ countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar) saw a mild pickup after having experienced constrained supply in previous quarters. The UAE’s smartphone growth stemmed mainly from an improved supply of low-end and premium Samsung devices, as well as from Xiaomi’s concerted focus on promoting its midrange devices.”
Samsung led the GCC smartphone market in terms of shipments in Q1-2022 with 47.5pc share. The vendor posted 6.9pc QoQ growth in shipments as supply improved, especially for its S-series devices. Second-placed Apple, with 15.4pc share, saw shipments decline 18.2pc QoQ, with channel partners reporting supply constraints and delays in shipments. Rounding out the top three, Xiaomi accounted for 14.9pc of the GCC smartphone market in Q1 2022, with its expanding portfolio of midrange to high-end devices driving a 9.3pc QoQ increase in shipments to the region.
The GCC smartphone market is forecast to decline 4.8pc QoQ in Q2 2022 due to rising inflation, declining consumer demand, and growing inventory in the channel. Travel and tourism will continue to increase but will not be sufficient to improve the quarter.
“5G shipments to the GCC in Q1 2022 were down 3.4pc QoQ and accounted for 35.9pc of overall smartphone shipments,” says Ramazan Yavuz, a senior research manager at IDC. “This was due to higher shipments of entry-level 4G Android devices in conjunction with shortages of iOS 5G devices. While ups and downs are expected in the short term, 5G penetration is forecast to continue at its previous rapid pace over the medium and long term and will make up 80.6pc of total GCC smartphone shipments in 2026.”
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