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Mobile Phone Manufacturing in China - Market Research Report (2015-2030)

IBISWorld IBISWorld Beijing, China Last Updated: April 2025 4014

Revenue

$293.2bn

2025

$313.5bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xbn

Employees

1m

Businesses

480

Wages

$XX.Xbn

Mobile Phone Manufacturing in China industry analysis

Industry revenue for the Mobile Phone Manufacturing industry is expected to increase an annualized 3.7% over the five years through 2023, to total $293.2 billion. This trend includes anticipated 3.7% growth in 2023. The industry developed rapidly from 2013 to 2016 due to the popularity of 4G mobile phones. However, the industry's expansion has since slowed as the 4G mobile phone market has reached saturation. China's 5G commercial licenses have been issued in 2019, and 5G mobile phones are projected to significantly expand sales volumes.Many companies have expanded into overseas markets to benefit from economies of scale. With the advantage of a high performance-to-price ratio, Chinese products are usually popular and subsequently allow Chinese companies to gain market share. Exports are estimated to account for 51.4% of industry revenue in 2023.Since the Chinese Government relaxed regulation relating to cellular phone production in 2003, domestic production has soared. Such high manufacturing levels have significantly influenced industry development. The Chinese Government issued the first TD-SCDMA third-generation (3G) license to China Mobile in January 2009 and TD-LTE fourth-generation (4G) license in December 2013. In 2017, fifth-generation (5G) began to be developed. In June 2019, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued 5G licenses to China's three telecommunication operators, which marked the beginning of commercial 5G network operations in China. As the number of mobile service subscribers increases, demand for products from the industry is forecast to grow, especially for high-end 5G smartphones. In 2020, industry revenue was constrained by the COVID-19 outbreak and therefore only increased marginally. Industry revenue is forecast to increase an annualized 3.1% over the five years through 2028, to $341.6 billion. This rise will mainly be driven by growing demand for 5G smartphones.

Trends and Insights

  • The construction of new information infrastructure continues to promote the development of the industry. Industry enterprises are in these supports to innovate more diversified products.
  • The market share of mobile communication terminals is still gradually expanding. Industry enterprises continue to explore the use of mobile communication terminals scenarios to attract more consumers.
  • Sichuan province is becoming an important producer of mobile devices. With the support of the Government, Sichuan province has introduced many advanced technologies for production in recent years.
  • Industry concentration level is low due to fierce competition. The industry is relatively mature, and the top four computer manufacturers account for 36.2% of industry revenue in 2024.

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  • Market estimates from 2015-2030
  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 3.7 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $293.2bn in 2025.

Trends and Insights

Developing technologies promote industry development

  • The industry developed quickly from 2013 to 2016 due to the popularity of 4G mobile phones and the mobile phone shipment in China totaled 560.0 million in 2016. However, the revenue growth has slowed since 2017, as the 4G market for mobile phones has reached saturated.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Mobile Phone Manufacturing in China
Revenue (2015-2030)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Demand for 5G phones will promote industry revenue

  • Demand for 5G mobile phones is projected to drive industry growth over the next five years. The first 5G mobile phones have been introduced to the market and are projected to become popular over the next years.

Biggest companies in the Mobile Phone Manufacturing in China

Company
Market Share (%)
2023
Revenue ($m)
2023
Apple Inc.
72,559.0
Lenovo Group Limited
58,159.9
Xiaomi Corporation
22,960.6

To view the market share and analysis for all 8 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Mobile Phone Manufacturing in China
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including 4G & 5G phones, 3G phones and Mobile equipment. 4G & 5G phones is the largest segment of the Mobile Phone Manufacturing in China.

Trends and Insights

4G & 5G phones are the largest product segment of the industry

  • 4G & 5G phones are expected to account for 52.2% of total industry revenue in 2023. Of the 1.57 billion people in China using cell phones in December 2018, about 1.17 billion were 4G users.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Firms in the Mobile Phone Manufacturing industry in China manufacture mobile communication terminal equipment, including mobile phones, cellular base stations, phone accessories and other mobile communication equipment including hands-free mobile kits, two-way radios and pagers.

What's included in this industry?

Manufacturing of GSM handsetsManufacturing of CDMA handsetsManufacturing of handset accessoriesManufacturing of cellular base stationsManufacturing of hands-free mobile kits, two-way radios and pagers

Companies

Apple Inc.Lenovo Group LimitedXiaomi Corporation

Purchase this report to view all 8 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS (GSM)CODE-DIVISION MULTIPLE ACCESS (CDMA)TIME-DIVISION SYNCHRONOUS CDMA (TD-SCDMA)

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The construction of new information infrastructure continues to promote the development of the industry. Industry enterprises are in these supports to innovate more diversifi...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

The market share of mobile communication terminals is still gradually expanding. Industry enterprises continue to explore the use of mobile communication terminals scenarios ...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2025
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2025
  • Major market segmentation in 2025
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Sichuan province is becoming an important producer of mobile devices. With the support of the Government, Sichuan province has introduced many advanced technologies for produ...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Industry concentration level is low due to fierce competition. The industry is relatively mature, and the top four computer manufacturers account for 36.2% of industry revenu...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Industry enterprises are actively expanding various categories of mobile terminal equipment. They increase market share by establishing their own ecosystems and creating prod...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
  • Overview of Apple Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of Lenovo Group Limited's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of Xiaomi Corporation's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 5 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Apple Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Lenovo Group Limited, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Xiaomi Corporation, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 5 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The Government has strict regulations on the communication of mobile devices. The Government has made regulations to restrict illegal communications to protect people's safet...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The increasing competition in the industry has led to a decline in profit margins. To occupy more market share, industry enterprises attract consumers through discounts and o...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Average Wage (2015-2030)
  • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
  • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2015-2030)
  • IVA (2015-2030)
  • Establishments (2015-2030)
  • Enterprises (2015-2030)
  • Employment (2015-2030)
  • Exports (2015-2030)
  • Imports (2015-2030)
  • Wages (2015-2030)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Mobile Phone Manufacturing industry in China in 2025?

The market size of the Mobile Phone Manufacturing industry in China is $293.2bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Mobile Phone Manufacturing industry in China in 2025?

There are 480 businesses in the Mobile Phone Manufacturing industry in China, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.3 % between 2020 and 2025.

How may import tariffs affect the Mobile Phone Manufacturing industry in China?

The Mobile Phone Manufacturing industry in China is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Mobile Phone Manufacturing industry in China?

The Mobile Phone Manufacturing industry in China is likely to be significantly impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a high share of industry revenue.

Has the Mobile Phone Manufacturing industry in China grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Mobile Phone Manufacturing industry in China has been growing at a CAGR of 3.7 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Mobile Phone Manufacturing industry in China over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Mobile Phone Manufacturing industry in China is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Mobile Phone Manufacturing industry in China?

The biggest companies operating in the Mobile Phone Manufacturing industry in China are Apple Inc., Lenovo Group Limited and Xiaomi Corporation

What does the Mobile Phone Manufacturing industry in China include?

Manufacturing of GSM handsets and Manufacturing of CDMA handsets are part of the Mobile Phone Manufacturing industry in China.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Mobile Phone Manufacturing industry in China?

The company holding the most market share in the Mobile Phone Manufacturing industry in China is Apple Inc..

How competitive is the Mobile Phone Manufacturing industry in China?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Mobile Phone Manufacturing industry in China.

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Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in China include:

  • National Bureau of Statistics China
  • General Administration of Customs
  • People’s Bank of China

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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