News
Smartphone Production to Drop in Q1 of 2019
The global smartphone production volume for the first quarter of 2019 (1Q19) will come to 307 million units, showing a 10% year-on-year (YOY) drop, according to TrendForce.
Although there has been a decline in the price of components, TrendForce says smartphone makers have set modest production targets due to the lower-than-expected sales in the previous quarter.
TrendForce’s quarterly prediction appears to mirror its earlier estimates that the overall outlook in the global smartphone market will remain weak in 2019.
“The latest first-quarter production figures from the major smartphone makers indicate the top six brands by production volume for 1Q19, in order, will be Samsung, Huawei, Apple, Xiaomi, OPPO and Vivo.”
The market research firm highlights that Samsung, which is still the market leader, began adjusting its product strategy in the second half of 2018 to challenge the Chinese brands head-on in the market segment for economically priced but high-spec devices.
As a result, TrendForce expects Samsung’s total volume for 1Q19 will reach 70 million units.
“In the future, Samsung is expected to raise the production of the Galaxy A devices so that they will gradually substitute the Galaxy J devices as the brand’s mainstream offerings. In emerging markets such as India, Samsung plans to heavily promote the newly established Galaxy M series that feature large-capacity batteries.
“These actions, taken together, imply Samsung is redefining its brand image to adapt to the challenges from the Chinese rivals and maintain its advantage in market share.”
Despite the market pressure, Huawei will continue to perform well, says TrendForce. Last year, Huawei rose in global rankings by ousting Apple to become the second biggest smartphone maker.
“Its total production volume for 1Q19 is forecast to increase by nearly 10% YOY to 46 million units. Besides having extensive product lines and establishing a strong presence in overseas markets, Huawei has also succeeded in wresting market share away from iPhone in the high-end segment in China with its P and Mate series.”
TrendForce believes the US-China trade war is likely to bear some influence on Huawei’s smartphone business. “In Europe, Huawei’s presence as a provider of telecom equipment has also come under suspicion. These issues will likely have some adverse effects on Huawei’s performance in the smartphone market.”
The Apple brand, according to TrendForce, will be in third place of the production ranking in 1Q19.
Based on its performances in the first quarter so far, TrendForce expects Apple’s total iPhone production volume for the period will come to just 41.5 million units, registering a YOY decline of nearly 26%.
“Apple has been reported to have consistently marked down their iPhone production targets since 4Q18 in order to control its inventory. To stimulate purchases, the company has also lowered the prices of the latest models for some regions in the current quarter.
“Apple’s pricing strategy as a whole is not conducive to driving iPhone sales in the present market environment. Furthermore, the sales ban on older iPhone models in China will deny Apple a sizable portion of consumer demand.”
After eight consecutive quarters of growth, Chinese smartphone brand Xiaomi’s smartphone production registered its first decline in 4Q18, falling to 30 million units, says TrendForce.
For 1Q19, Xiaomi’s smartphone production is expected to drop, with total volume falling by 12% YOY to around 26 million units.
“The greatest challenge faced by Xiaomi currently is the lack of R&D into cutting-edge technologies and too much focus on low-price devices with thin margins. On one hand, Xiaomi has to rely more on marketing to drive sales of devices. On the other hand, thin margins can limit the profit gains that can be ploughed back to R&D. The situations result in more resources going to marketing and less going to R&D, forming a vicious circle.”
The research firm notes Xiaomi is trying to remedy the aforementioned problems by recruiting more R&D talent and adjusting the market positioning of its subsidiary brands to retain overall market share.
The African Development Bank (AfDB), has disclosed plans to work with the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), to boost the state’s transport system with the development of another rail line.
This was contained in a statement signed by, the Head, Corporate Communication, LAMATA, Mr. Kolawole Ojelabi in Lagos.
Ojelabi said that the AfDB Vice President, Private Sector Infrastructure and Industrialisation, Mr. Solomon Quaynor, gave the assurance during a visit to LAMATA.
He added that the bank was interested in partnering LAMATA to expand the capacity of the existing rail system.
“Quaynor was also in the company of the Non-Sovereign Operations and Private Sector Equity Specialist, Mr Mayowa Ayodele ahead of a visit of the technical team to assess the Purple line,” he said.
The Purple Line is a 60-kilometre railroad along the Redemption Camp in Ogun State, traversing Berger, Agege and Alimosho and terminate at Volkswagen to join the Blue Line.
“The visit follows a recent pitch for investment on 60-kilometre Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Purple Line at the African Development Bank forum in Morocco, where the Lagos delegation was led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
“This is to further discuss collaboration on the project and other lines outlined in the Lagos Strategic Transport Master Plan. The delegation toured the LRMT Blue Line and expressed satisfaction with the progress of the Blue Line rail system,” he said.
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has filed a lawsuit against the Nigerian government the 36 states over the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act 2024.
SERAP is arguing that “the repressive use of the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act 2024 by the government to criminalize legitimate expression violate the human rights of Nigerians, including activists, journalists, bloggers and social media users”.
In a statement on Sunday, Kolawole Oluwadare, deputy director, SERAP, explained that the suit was filed to stop the Tinubu administration and Nigeria’s 36 governors from using the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act 2024 to criminalize legitimate expression and punish Nigerians, including social media users.
He said: “Rather than using the amended legislation to make cyberspace and its users safer, Nigerian authorities are routinely weaponizing it to curb Nigerians’ human rights and media freedom.
“The suit no: ECW/CCJ/APP/03/2025 was filed last week before the ECOWAS Court in Abuja.”
Recall that Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court had on March 25, 2022, declared Section 24 of Nigeria’s original Cybercrimes Act 2015 as “arbitrary, vague, and repressive.”
The court ordered Nigeria to repeal the provision, citing non-compliance with human rights obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Although the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act 2024 repealed Section 24, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) argues that the reworded provisions still infringe upon freedom of expression and information.
SERAP’s concerns center around the ambiguity of “causing a breakdown of law and order” in Section 24(1)(b), which they believe threatens peaceful and legitimate expression and leaves room for abuse.
SERAP highlighted several instances where the law was allegedly misused to target government critics, including activist Dele Farotimi, journalist Agba Jalingo, and social media user Chioma Okoli.
The organization emphasized that the amended legislation has a chilling effect on human rights and media freedom.
SERAP stressed that the amended Act contravenes international human rights law, which requires restrictions on freedom of expression to serve a legitimate purpose and be strictly proportionate.
The organization seeks a declaration that Section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act 2024 is unlawful and an order directing the government to repeal or amend the legislation in compliance with international standards.
However, a hearing date has not been set for the suit.
Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has applauded Mr. Monday Okpebholo, Edo State governor, for the appointment of Mr. Collins Edomaruse as his Special Adviser, International Development Partners (IDP).
Ms Maureen Chigbo, president of GOCOP and publisher of RealNews Online, described Edomaruse’s appointment as a welcomed development.
Chigbo in a press statement by Ogbuefi Remmy Nweke, GOCOP Publicity Secretary, also congratulated Edomaruse for this appointment assuring of support from over 110 members of GOCOP in carrying out his duties.
Until his appointment, Edomaruse who is a founding member of GOCOP and the Secretary General of the body of reputed online publishers is also a member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), among others.
Edomaruse doubles as the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of METROWATCH, and has held several senior editorial management positions in THISDAY, including Group News Editor, Group Politics Editor, Deputy Editor, Daily, Saturday and Sunday titles respectively, as well as the Editor, Nation’s Capital/Abuja Bureau.
Also known as ‘General’ because of his mastery of the Defence Beat, his records in THISDAY have remained unbeaten, where he ranked the best among the editors.
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