NEW DELHI: The healthy demand for smartphones after the strict lockdown as well as anti-China sentiments seem to be turning into a catalyst for Samsung’s mobile phone business in India.
The company, which till last year was losing market share to China’s might of Xiaomi, Vivo, Oppo, OnePlus and Realme, has been gaining in volumes and expects online sales revenue in the second half of this year to be double of what it achieved in the same period last year. However, the company insists that offline is healthy too.
“We are seeing a very buoyant and resurgent online business,” Asim Warsi, senior VP at Samsung India, told TOI. The online charge is led by brands such as M Series, which was launched in February last year and is expected to close with sales of $3.5 billion by the end of this year.
Warsi said that smartphone volumes have been staying strong after being in a tough period during the lockdown and a few more weeks after that when parts supplies into India were impacted. He said that while the overall smartphone industry may decline by 10-15% this year due to the loss of business because of Covid and other problems, the online channels have been healthy, and Samsung may grow by 35% in revenue on a full-year basis.
He did not comment on any potential benefits due to a possible anti-Chinese sentiment. “As far as Samsung is concerned, we are fully focused on the customers in India and what they need from their smartphones.” The company has launched eight new devices since the lifting of lockdown in India and will be launching two more — M51, and Galaxy Z Fold2. “There will be no let-up in the pace of our launches, and we will continue to bring in new devices.”
The company, which till last year was losing market share to China’s might of Xiaomi, Vivo, Oppo, OnePlus and Realme, has been gaining in volumes and expects online sales revenue in the second half of this year to be double of what it achieved in the same period last year. However, the company insists that offline is healthy too.
“We are seeing a very buoyant and resurgent online business,” Asim Warsi, senior VP at Samsung India, told TOI. The online charge is led by brands such as M Series, which was launched in February last year and is expected to close with sales of $3.5 billion by the end of this year.
Warsi said that smartphone volumes have been staying strong after being in a tough period during the lockdown and a few more weeks after that when parts supplies into India were impacted. He said that while the overall smartphone industry may decline by 10-15% this year due to the loss of business because of Covid and other problems, the online channels have been healthy, and Samsung may grow by 35% in revenue on a full-year basis.
He did not comment on any potential benefits due to a possible anti-Chinese sentiment. “As far as Samsung is concerned, we are fully focused on the customers in India and what they need from their smartphones.” The company has launched eight new devices since the lifting of lockdown in India and will be launching two more — M51, and Galaxy Z Fold2. “There will be no let-up in the pace of our launches, and we will continue to bring in new devices.”
