Xiaomi Feels Sting of China COVID Curbs With 20 Percent Fall in Q2 Revenue, Smartphone Sales Fall 29 Percent

Xiaomi’s stock price has tumbled nearly 40 percent since the start of 2022, hit by the slowing Chinese economy and weakening overseas growth.

By Reuters | Updated: 19 August 2022 17:45 IST

Xiaomi Feels Sting of China COVID Curbs With 20 Percent Fall in Q2 Revenue, Smartphone Sales Fall 29 Percent

Photo Credit: Reuters

Xiaomi saw a sales surge in 2021 after it grabbed market share from Huawei

Highlights

Xiaomi missed market estimates with a steep drop in Q2 revenue
China's consumer consumption is suffering due to Covid-19 lockdowns
Xiaomi is facing a probe in India for allegedly dodging tax regulators

Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi posted a steep drop in second quarter revenue on Friday as the world's biggest smartphone market shrank, hit by strict COVID restrictions. Sales fell 20 percent year on year to CNY 70.17 billion (roughly Rs. 82,200 crore), missing estimates and marking a steeper decline from the previous quarter, when the company posted its first-ever revenue drop since listing.

Net income fell 67 percent to CNY 2.08 billion (roughly Rs. 2,400 crore), missing analysts' estimates.

China's consumer consumption has struggled to rebound from the impact of lockdowns in Shanghai and other cities in the first half of the year.

Government Said to Seek Ouster of Chinese Firms From Affordable Phone Market

Data this week showed China's economy slowed unexpectedly in July, indicating the world's second largest economy is struggling to shake off the June quarter's hit to growth from COVID restrictions and prompting a central bank rate cut.

China's long-stagnant smartphone sector has been especially hit by the downturn, with unit shipments down 10 percent year on year in the second quarter, according to research firm Canalys.

Smartphone sales for Xiaomi, which generate more than half of the company's total revenue, fell 29 percent.

Xiaomi Tops Indian Smartphone Market With 20 Percent Share in Q2 2022: CMR

In 2021, Xiaomi saw a sales surge after it grabbed market share from rival Huawei, whose ability to proscure components was heavily cripled by US sanctions.

Yet the bump was short-lived, and the company's stock price has tumbled nearly 40 percent since the start of 2022, hit by the slowing Chinese economy and weakening overseas growth.

In India, Xiaomi's strongest market outside of China, the company has been subject to government probes for allegedly dodging tax regulators.

In April, Indian tax authorities seized $725 million (roughly Rs. 5,800 crore) in assets from the company, claiming it illegally transferred funds abroad under the guise of royalty payents. Xiaomi has denied any wrongdoing.

The weak smartphone market in China and globally has led the company to seek new opportunities.

Xiaomi said earlier this month it had started testing self-driving vehicles in select cities in China.

Xiaomi 12 Pro is littered with features, but is that enough? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

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