Smartphone deliveries in February were 38 percent lower than last year

According to the analysts at Strategy Analytics, 38 percent fewer smartphones were delivered in February than the same month a year earlier. The company calls it “the biggest drop in the history of the global smartphone market”.

The total amount of smartphone shipments in February 2020 was 61.8 million units, compared to 99.2 million units in February of 2019. The analysts also expect March to be a weaker month compared to last year. “It will be a time that the smartphone industry will soon forget,” said Neil Mawston, head of Strategy Analytics. The numerators blame the outbreak of the corona virus.

More specific figures are not in the announcement, but the agency speaks of “supply and demand plunge in China, slump in Asia and weaken in the rest of the world.” There is a link to a more complete report, but that site is not available at the time of writing.

In Asia, the coronavirus not only reduced demand due to the disease, but also reduced production. Factories on that continent have been temporarily closed several times to prevent the virus from spreading among employees. The epicenter of the coronavirus is currently in Europe.