PRESS: Coronavirus holds smartphone deliveries from China

MOSCOW, Jan 31 (PRIME) – The Chinese smartphone manufacturers and Apple, whose production facilities are also located in this country, have delayed deliveries of equipment to Russia for two weeks because the holidays were prolonged due to a coronavirus outbreak, business daily Kommersant reported on Friday.

The delay can provoke some deficit and a price rise by 10–15%, but will help retailers sell out stocks, analysts said.

Huawei, including its brand Honor, Xiaomi, Vivo, Realme, ZTE and Lenovo have started postponing deliveries to Russia, two sources in partners of the brands told the daily.

One of them said that the companies sent letters explaining the delay until February 10, adding it can be prolonged.

Retailers, like mobile operators with their own stores – MTS, MegaFon and VimpelCom – and companies Svyaznoy and M.Video-Eldorado Group do not expect any shortage in supply yet.

Head of the mobile devices department at Marvel-Distribution Pavel Vyukov sees no problem if the delay lasts no more than two weeks. If it is from two to five weeks, there will be a certain deficit, but the business could take advantage of the situation and get rid of stocks.

If the delay lasts for a month or a month and a half, serious negative circumstances are possible, he said.

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