Supply Chain Research

U.S. buyers of mobile phones may be buying fewer devices, but at a higher price point. U.S. imports of mobile phones fell 0.9% on a year earlier in March, Panjiva data shows, resulting in a first quarter rise of just 1.1% after a strong January. Shipments from Taiwan were heavily impacted by the production of Google’s Pixel phone, which is produced there. Volumes shipped increased 51.0% in March, while the average value per device jumped 80.3% to $231. Chinese shipments also increased, by 9.2% in March with average values rising 9.2% to $200 – the seventh straight rise.

Data for U.S. imports of phones under HS 8517.12. Upper panel shows customs value per unit, lower panel change in volumes imported  Source: Panjiva

Exports to all countries by China-based manufacturers have been more successful, with a 18.5% rise in the value of exports in March. That reflects a broader trend in handset exports globally, identified by IDC, and brings the first quarter to 26.5% in total. Growth was led by Apple suppliers Foxconn and Pegatron with 27% and 26% expansion respectively. Huawei, while smaller, grew more quickly as its lower-end, emerging market phones resulted in 39.8% growth.

Data for exports from China of products categorized HS 8517.12, filtered by names of companies and known affiliates Source: Panjiva