iPhone supplier Murata targets China budget smartphone makers

Murata Manufacturing Co

13/12/2023 02:00

By Sam Nussey and Miho Uranaka
       TOKYO, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Japanese smartphone component
supplier Murata Manufacturing  6981.T  aims to grow sales to
Chinese makers of lower-end handsets destined for emerging
markets as it looks beyond saturated strongholds.
    Murata, a leading supplier of ceramic capacitors, sees the
smartphone market growing 5% in the year ending March 2025,
aided by demand for mid- and low-end handsets in places such as
India, Africa and Southeast Asia. 
    "Exports by Chinese makers to areas with growing populations
are really increasing," Murata President Norio Nakajima said in
an interview.
    Murata, a supplier to Apple  AAPL.O  and Samsung Electronics
 005930.KS , is among industry players grappling with depressed
smartphone demand as consumers hold on to handsets for longer.  
    In October, smartphone sales grew 5% year-on-year after more
than two years of decline, boosted by emerging-market demand,
showed data from research firm Counterpoint.
    Within China itself, excess inventory is normalising,
Nakajima said. 
    Last month, Apple said demand for its iPhone in China
remains strong, with analysts also pointing to strong sales of
smartphones from local champion Huawei Technologies  HWT.UL .

 (Reporting by Sam Nussey and Miho Uranaka; Editing by
Christopher Cushing)
 ((sam.nussey@tr.com;))