Foreign Phone Sales in China Drop Nearly 10% in May Amid Rising Local Competition

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Sales of foreign-branded smartphones in China, including those from Apple Inc., fell 9.7% year-on-year in May, according to data released on Friday by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT).

Total shipments of non-Chinese brands dropped to 4.54 million units in May, compared to the same month in 2023. Although CAICT did not provide a breakdown by company, Apple’s dominant share among foreign players means its performance heavily influenced the overall decline.

The data highlights the intensifying competition foreign manufacturers face from domestic brands like Huawei, Xiaomi, and Honor. Apple has been particularly impacted, prompting the tech giant to implement aggressive pricing strategies, including discounts of up to 2,530 yuan ($351) on iPhone 16 models through Chinese e-commerce platforms.

Meanwhile, the broader Chinese phone market also saw a significant contraction. Total smartphone shipments in the country fell 21.8% year-on-year, with 23.72 million units sold in May.

Analysts say the data reflect both weak consumer demand and a growing shift toward homegrown technology, amid rising geopolitical and market pressures.

Alibaba to Raise $1.53 Billion via Exchangeable Bonds for Cloud and Global Commerce Expansion

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Alibaba Group has announced plans to raise approximately HK$12 billion ($1.53 billion) through the issuance of exchangeable bonds, as part of its strategic push into cloud computing and international commerce.

The bonds, which can later be exchanged for shares in Alibaba Health Technology, will carry zero interest, making them an attractive vehicle for investors seeking exposure to Alibaba’s healthcare arm while supporting the group’s broader growth strategy. Alibaba currently owns a 64% stake in Alibaba Health.

This financing initiative follows the company’s $5 billion dual-currency bond sale in November 2024, the largest of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region that year. It also signals growing momentum among Chinese tech companies using exchangeable debt to unlock capital—similar to Baidu’s $2 billion note offering tied to shares of Trip.com earlier in 2025.

The proceeds from Alibaba’s new bond sale are earmarked for:

  • Cloud infrastructure investment, including AI model development centered on Alibaba’s Qwen AI,

  • Expansion of global commerce operations, with infrastructure rollouts already underway in Thailand, Mexico, and South Korea.

The offering comes amid improving sentiment in the Asian credit markets, buoyed by recent fiscal and monetary stimulus from Beijing. Analysts say the favorable debt environment is encouraging large corporates like Alibaba and Miniso to return to capital markets with convertible or exchangeable instruments.

Alibaba clarified that Alibaba Health will remain a core, consolidated subsidiary, both during and after the bond exchange process. This move ensures continuity of operations while unlocking capital for strategic reinvestment.

France Fines Shein €40 Million for Misleading Discounts on Fast Fashion Platform

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France’s antitrust regulator has fined fast-fashion giant Shein €40 million ($47.17 million) for deceptive commercial practices related to misleading discounts offered on its platform. The penalty follows a nearly year-long investigation into how Shein presented pricing on its French website.

According to the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF), Shein’s European sales handler, Infinite Style E-Commerce Co Ltd (ISEL), failed to comply with French pricing laws that require any advertised discount to reflect the lowest price offered over the prior 30 days. Instead, Shein often disregarded prior discounts and, in some cases, even increased prices before applying supposed markdowns.

The investigation, which analyzed thousands of products listed between October 1, 2022, and August 31, 2023, found that:

  • 57% of the “discounts” did not actually reduce the price,

  • 19% offered smaller savings than advertised,

  • 11% were actually price increases disguised as deals.

The regulator concluded that Shein had misled consumers about the authenticity of its promotional offers, violating both consumer trust and legal standards.

In response, Shein stated that it was notified of the violations in March 2023 and took corrective action within two months. The company emphasized that “all identified issues were addressed more than a year ago” and reaffirmed its commitment to full compliance with French regulations.

This fine adds to growing scrutiny of Shein across Europe and other markets, where regulators are focusing not just on pricing practices but also on environmental impact and labor transparency.