Jing Ji Guan Cha Wang·2025-08-29 07:20Core Viewpoint - The global smartphone market is experiencing a slight decline in shipments, with Africa being viewed as the last untapped market by major smartphone manufacturers. However, Transsion Holdings has reported a significant drop in revenue and net profit, marking the first decline since its IPO in 2019 [1][2]. Group 1: Company Performance - Transsion Holdings reported a revenue of 29.077 billion yuan in the first half of 2025, a year-on-year decrease of 15.86%, and a nearly 60% drop in net profit [1]. - The company attributes its performance decline to product rhythm, intense market competition, and supply chain costs, with market competition being a particularly significant factor [1][2]. - Transsion's market share in Africa has remained stable at around 50% since surpassing Samsung in 2017, but it is now facing increased competition from rivals like Xiaomi, OPPO, and others [1][2]. Group 2: Competitive Landscape - Xiaomi has rapidly increased its market share in Africa from single digits in 2019 to 14.4% by Q2 2025, positioning itself as the third-largest player behind Transsion and Samsung [2]. - The competition is intensifying, with various brands targeting both high-end and low-end segments, particularly the sub-$100 market where Transsion has traditionally dominated [3][4]. - Xiaomi's strategy includes not only competitive pricing but also better specifications at similar price points, directly challenging Transsion's product offerings [3]. Group 3: Market Expansion and Challenges - Transsion has been expanding into South Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East since 2016, with non-African markets contributing 65% of revenue by 2024 [5]. - Despite this growth, profitability in these new markets is significantly lower than in Africa, with a gross margin of 17.66% compared to 28.59% in Africa [5]. - The company is also investing in mid-to-high-end products to target the emerging middle class in new markets, with R&D spending reaching 1.362 billion yuan in the first half of 2025 [5][6]. Group 4: New Business Ventures - Transsion has been developing its electric two-wheeler business for nearly three years, launching the TankVolt brand in Uganda and expanding into other African countries [6]. - In 2025, the company partnered with ZMC Solar Energy to enter the energy storage market in Iraq, indicating a diversification strategy beyond smartphones [6].