Huawei Technologies Co says it maintained robust growth in the first half of the year, as the world's third-biggest smartphone maker continued to expand its presence in the high-end segment.

The Shenzhen-based company says it shipped about 73 million smartphones in the first six months, up by 20 percent year-on-year. The strong momentum helped its consumer business group record 105 billion yuan ($15.6 billion; 13.3 billion euros; ￡11.9 billion) in revenue, accounting for about 37 percent of its total revenue.

Yu Chengdong, CEO of Huawei's consumer business group, says the company's products are becoming increasingly popular in Europe, Southeast Asia and other regions.

At the same time, Huawei archrival Apple Inc from the list of China's top four smartphone sellers in the second quarter, as mounting competition from local players intensified, a report by consultancy Counterpoint Research says.

According to the report, Apple's market share by smartphone shipments in China declined to 8.2 percent in Q2, compared with a 10.1 percent share for the previous quarter.

Owing to the downward trajectory, the California-based company was replaced in the fourth slot by local brand Xiaomi Corp, which grabbed 13 percent of the market.

The report is the latest evidence that Apple is losing momentum in China, where local players are scrambling to experiment with new technologies and are adjusting deftly to local consumers' changing tastes and lifestyles.

Last year, Apple's flagship iPhone lost the title of best-selling smartphone in China, the first time it fell from its throne since 2012, the Counterpoint report says.

Contact the writers at chenyu@chinadaily.com.cn and masi@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily Africa Weekly 08/04/2017 page29)