Smartphone Average Selling Price Sees Record Year-on-year Growth in 3Q - GfK Data

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NUREMBERG, Germany, October 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

- ASP accelerated further in 3Q17, posting the highest year-on-year increase in any observed quarter  

- Strong 3Q demand for smartphones is powered by Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe 

Global smartphone demand reached 367 million units in 3Q17, up three percent year-on-year. This is the highest 3Q tracked by GfK, in terms of absolute demand, despite moderating growth. The record demand was primarily driven by Latin America (up 11 percent year-on-year) and Central and Eastern Europe (up nine percent year-on-year). Global average sales price (ASP) continued to increase in 3Q, rising by a record seven percent year-on-year. 

Smartphone sales 3Q 2017 vs. 3Q 2016          Units sold (in million)
               
                                          3Q17         3Q16     Y/Y % change   
Western Europe                           30.9         33.2         -7%

C & E Europe                             22.3         20.5          9%

North America                            49.3         50.0         -1%

Latin America                            27.8         25.1         11%

Middle East & Africa                     45.2         41.9          8%

China                                   117.0        111.9          5%

Developed Asia                           16.4         17.6         -7%

Emerging Asia                            57.7         55.2          5%

Global                                  366.6        355.4          3%

Source: GfK Point of Sales (POS) Measurement data in 75+ markets, monthly data to the end of August 2017,
plus weekly data to 30 September 2017. Percentages are rounded.

Table Continued
Smartphone sales 3Q 2017 vs. 3Q 2016
                                            Sales value
                                          (in billion USD

                                    3Q17       3Q16      Y/Y % change
Western Europe                      13.7       13.2          4%

C & E Europe                         5.4        4.3         26%

 North America                       19.1       18.9          1%

Latin America                        8.8        7.8         13%

Middle East & Africa                10.7       10.2          5%

China                               38.3       31.9         20%

Developed Asia                      10.3       11.3         -9%

Emerging Asia                       10.5        8.7         21%

Global                             116.8      106.3         10%
Source: GfK Point of Sales (POS) Measurement data in 75+ markets, monthly data to the end of August 2017,
plus weekly data to 30 September 2017. Percentages are rounded.

Arndt Polifke, global director of telecom research at GfK, commented, "Although unit sales may be down in some regions, the increase in ASP reveals the fantastic opportunity to grow the value of the smartphone market. This is welcome news for manufacturers, particularly in regions such as Western Europe where saturation has resulted in declining sales volumes year-on-year. The industry has clearly been switching its focus to drive sales value, and top tier global brands, such as Apple, Google, HTC, Huawei, LG, Moto, Nokia, Samsung and Sony, either already have, or will release, new premium models in an effort to upsell customers to their flagship devices. At the same time, premium features are increasing in importance to consumers, so we expect to see more emphasis on water and dust protection, battery power and memory, high resolution sound, camera and video capabilities, bezel-less design and even biometric sensors on new launches."

Western Europe: Revenue grows despite market saturation 
Smartphone demand totaled 30.9 million units in 3Q17 in Western Europe, down seven percent year-on-year. The combination of the saturated market and delayed launch of the iPhone X has led to a year-on-year decline for the fourth consecutive quarter. Demand in Germany is set to decline by seven percent year-on-year and both Great Britain and France are expected to experience an eight percent fall. However, sales value in the region rose four percent year-on-year, driven by an 11 percent increase in ASP. As a result, GfK raised its 2017 smartphone revenue outlook for the region to six percent year-on-year. The shift towards very high end devices is a clear trend in this region, with one out of eight smartphones sold in this quarter priced above USD 900, compared to one out of 16 in 3Q16.

Central and Eastern Europe: Revenue up 26 percent

Smartphone demand continues to recover in Central and Eastern Europe, with a nine percent increase year-on-year in 3Q17, bringing demand to 22.3 million units. Sales value, however, increased at a faster rate of 26 percent year-on-year, driven by a shift in consumer demand towards higher-priced devices. The improvement in the region's demand in 3Q17 is mainly due to strong growth in Russia (up 10 percent year-on-year) and the Ukraine (up 19 percent year-on-year). The outlook is also positive, with 2017 smartphone demand forecast to grow nine percent year-on-year to 85.2 million.

North America: A slight fall in 3Q17 but a positive outlook to round the year off  

In North America, smartphone demand totaled 49.3 million units in 3Q17, down one percent year-on-year. This represents a return to decline, following growth in 2Q. However, the outlook for 4Q17 is positive, as major product releases have been announced for this quarter. GfK forecasts 2017 smartphone demand to total 201 million units, a growth of one percent year-on-year.

Latin America: Brazilian sales give the region a boost  

In this region, smartphone demand reached 27.8 million units in 3Q17, a rise of 11 percent year-on-year. Demand in Brazil remains the driver of this sterling regional performance. Brazil experienced a 17 percent increase in demand in 3Q17 compared to the previous year. GfK has raised its 2017 forecast for Latin America to growth of nine percent year-on-year.

Middle East and Africa: Egypt returns to growth 
Smartphone demand totaled 45.2 million units in the Middle East and Africa, up eight percent year-on-year. This increase in sales has been driven by a faster-than-expected recovery in Egypt, where demand returned to growth in July 2017 for the first time since November 2016. Overall, GfK forecasts smartphone demand to grow by five percent year-on-year in 2017. This is driven primarily by Sub-Saharan and South African countries, where smartphone penetration remains relatively low.

China: Unit demand up, with prices set to increase further as new models are launched 
In China, smartphone revenue is up 20 percent year-on-year in 3Q17. This growth was driven by a 15 percent year-on-year rise in ASP, while demand increased five percent year-on-year, reaching 117 million units. Launches from key domestic brands that were postponed to 3Q17 contributed to the positive performance of this quarter. Overall, smartphone demand in China is expected to total 464 million in 2017, a growth of four percent year-on-year. In value terms (USD), 16 percent year-on-year growth is forecast.

Developed Asia*: Declining demand in South Korea continues to bite 
Smartphone demand in the region reached 16.4 million units in 3Q17, down seven percent year-on-year, weighed-down by a 15 percent year-on-year decline in South Korea. Demand in Japan grew two percent year-on-year, delivering moderating growth from to the previous quarter. GfK's 2017 forecast for the region has been lowered to minus four percent year-on-year, with smartphone demand totaling 70.1 million units.

Emerging Asia*: Still on track to post the strongest growth across all regions in 2017 
In emerging Asia, smartphone revenue increased 21 percent year-on-year in 3Q17, while demand increased five percent year-on-year, reaching 57.7 million units. Demand growth in India and Indonesia in the quarter moderated to three percent and five percent, respectively, year-on-year. In Malaysia demand grew by 25 percent year-on-year, representing the sixth consecutive quarter of growth. Bangladesh also saw strong demand in the quarter, with growth of 22 percent year-on-year. GfK forecasts smartphone demand in emerging Asia to total 238 million units in 2017 (up 11 percent year-on-year), the strongest of all regions this year.

Smartphone sales            Units sold (in million)    Sales value (in billion USD)
2017 vs. 2016
                               2017      2016     Y/Y %      2017      2016    Y/Y %
                             Sales     Sales    Change     Sales     Sales   Change

Western Europe               126.7     131.0      -3%       56.6      53.5      6%

Central and Eastern Europe    85.2      78.0       9%       21.0      16.8     25%

North America                201.1     198.5       1%       80.6      77.5      4%

Latin America                115.4     105.9       9%       36.2      30.9     17%

Middle East & Africa         176.8     168.9       5%       41.9      42.1      0%

China                        464.3     448.5       4%      154.3     133.1     16%

Developed Asia                70.1      72.9      -4%       44.7      46.1     -3%

Emerging Asia                238.6     214.5      11%       43.0      34.5     25%

Global                      1478.2   1,418.2       4%      478.3     434.5     10%

Source: GfK Point of Sales (POS) Measurement data in 75+ markets, monthly data to the end
of August 2017, plus weekly data to 30 September 2017. Percentages are rounded.

Yotaro Noguchi, product lead in GfK's trends and forecasting division, concluded, "This quarter's results reveal the complexity of the global smartphone market and explain why, when it comes to forecasting performance and meeting future demand, manufacturers really do need to examine and understand the nuances of each individual market."

Note: 
This release is based on final GfK Point of Sales data for July and August, and September estimates based on weekly data to 30 September 2017.
*Developed Asia: Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan
*Emerging Asia: Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam
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SOURCE GfK