Apple has closed its Dalian store in China for the first time, citing a decline in overall retail performance in the mall.

Apple (NASDAQ Ticker: AAPL) will close a retail store in Dalian, China next month, marking the first store closure for the tech giant since it entered the Chinese market in 2008. According to a report by The New York Times, Apple announced on Monday that due to a general decline in retail performance at the store located in Parkland Mall( in Zhongshan District, Dalian, it will close on August 9. Several well-known brands, including Michael Kors and Armani, have withdrawn from the mall, and local residents have also reported poor business conditions at the mall.

Apple spokesperson Brian Bumbery stated in a statement: In light of the withdrawal of several retailers from Century City, Apple has decided to follow suit and close its store. Apple loves serving Dalian, and all outstanding team members will have the opportunity to continue working at Apple, which means the company will not be laying off employees.

Apple's sales in the Greater China region have declined for six consecutive quarters.

Apple will continue to operate its second store located in Dalian Henglong Plaza, dedicated to the development of the region. A new Apple retail store will open later this month in Shenzhen. Apple faces increasing challenges in the Greater China region, the world's second-largest market. Previously, Apple reported a decline in sales for six consecutive quarters. Last year, revenue in the Greater China region fell to $66.95 billion, nearly a 10% drop from the peak in 2022.

The competition in the Chinese smartphone market is fierce, with Apple's market share and shipment volume both declining.

In 2024, the annual shipment volume of the Chinese smartphone market is expected to reach approximately 285 million units. According to a report by Canalys, the top five brands by shipment volume are vivo, Huawei, Apple, OPPO, and Honor. Among them, vivo maintains the top position with approximately 49.3 million units shipped and a 17% market share; Huawei returns with high-end models and self-developed technology, closely following with a shipment volume of 46 million units and a 16% market share, achieving a 37% year-on-year growth rate; Apple saw its shipment volume decline to 42.9 million units, a 17% decrease due to the lack of AI features and competitive pressure; OPPO and Honor ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, with 42.7 million and 42.2 million units. According to data from Counterpoint Research, Apple's market share in the Chinese smartphone market dropped from 17.9% last year to 15.5% in 2024. The competition in the domestic smartphone market in China is intense, and Apple's market share is facing challenges. ) Source: Sina Finance (

Parkland Mall shopping center is about to close. In 2025, Apple will still have 58 stores in China. Although it is a strategic exit, the number of Apple stores will remain at the current level. According to price trend data from Benzinga Pro, Apple's stock price rose by 0.079% during regular trading hours on Monday, and increased by another 0.028% during after-hours trading, bringing the current stock price to $211.36. Purely market observation, not any investment advice.

This article reports that Apple has closed its store in Dalian, China for the first time, citing overall decline in retail performance in shopping malls. It first appeared in Chain News ABMedia.