bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

Josh Ye

Celia Chen

At a premier spot in Donlim Emperor Court, a shiny new shopping centre in the southern Chinese city of Foshan, stands a 1,700-square-foot Huawei store. With massive Huawei logos adorning its walls, the franchise outlet has been such a treasured presence that the mall’s property management featured it in promotional materials to woo potential tenants.
On a recent visit, however, the store was deserted, save for a tiny Christmas tree and a few pieces of furniture. The door was locked. It turns out that the shop permanently closed right before Lunar New Year, just eight months after opening.
The swift closure is a sign of growing troubles for Huawei Technologies Co, China’s top smartphone manufacturer, whose ability to produce handsets in bulk has been crippled by US sanctions that blocked its access to hardware, software and services of US origin. The Chinese telecoms giant reportedly expects its smartphone output this year to shrink by 60 per cent from 2020.
The sharp decline in production has dealt a massive blow to Huawei’s retail distributors. Eddie Cen, a leasing manager at Donlim Emperor Court, said he was told by the owner of the closed Huawei store that supplies for Huawei devices had dried up. That distributor, which operated 30 Huawei outlets at its peak, is closing at least nine of them, according to Cen.
The problem is not unique to Foshan. Across the country, reports of dwindling stocks of Huawei smartphones have surfaced in recent months as retailers switch to selling other domestic brands such as Oppo, Vivo and Realme.
Huawei declined to comment for this article.

Before the worst impact of the US restrictions kicked in, new Huawei franchise outlets had been mushrooming across the country.
The brand had been popular among domestic retailers partly because its models often offered a fatter profit margin. A new Huawei phone could be sold for as much as 1,000 yuan (US$154) above the sourcing price, or three times the margin of other Chinese brands, said Tony Zhang, a phone vendor in Foshan.
Domestic demand for Huawei phones had also been riding high on patriotic sentiment amid rising US-China tensions. For many Chinese consumers, Huawei is seen as a symbol of national pride. Last summer, the company briefly dethroned South Korean giant Samsung Electronics as the world’s top smartphone seller, with robust shipments in China offsetting large declines in other parts of the world.
By October last year, Huawei said the number of its “retail experience stores” in China surpassed 10,000. It remained the bestselling smartphone brand in China in the December-ending quarter, according to research firm Canalys.
While Huawei was first subject to Washington’s sanctions in 2019, the company was initially able to produce smartphones with semiconductors it had stockpiled from US suppliers and ramped-up orders from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Expanded sanctions last year, however, banned foreign chip makers that use US technology from selling to Huawei without Washington’s approval. The move virtually cut off Huawei from most global chip suppliers.
Huawei bets on AI pig farming as a new growth area outside smartphones
Opening a Huawei retail store in 2020 proved to be “a huge miscalculation for many people”, said Zhang.
Huawei is forecast to be able to produce only 70 to 80 million handsets this year, a significant decline from the 189 million units it shipped last year, according to market research firm IDC. Shipments this year could fall further to just a fifth of the volume in 2020, according to Ethan Qi, an analyst at Counterpoint Research.
“Most physical shops are now running out of stock [of Huawei phones],” Qi said. “Huawei has been grading its distributors based on their performance since last September, and now even the big shops have started to struggle [with maintaining supplies], and the small ones have no chance of filling their inventories”
In Huaqiangbei, an electronics market in the southern Chinese tech hub of Shenzhen and a trading centre for mobile phones, none of the five stores that the ﻿South China Morning Post visited had inventory for the Mate X2, the foldable phone that Huawei unveiled last month.
One retailer, who declined to be named, said that some people seek high-end Huawei models like the Mate X2, priced officially at 17,999 yuan, because of their rarity. “Few people will buy this foldable phone for daily use, but people will buy it as a gift. The price has increased to over 24,000 yuan.”
Even more mainstream products, such as the Mate 40 Pro, Huawei’s flagship 5G smartphone that launched in China in December, are running out of stock. “For the yellow Mate 40 Pro, for instance, my store may have only one or two left,” one retailer said.

Some Huawei distributors did not survive the downturn.
A business owner surnamed Deng, who calls himself Second Brother, has been documenting his fleeting journey of opening and closing a Huawei store in Sichuan province in the span of nine months.
In a clip posted on Xigua Video last month, which has amassed more than 400,000 views, Deng said that even though he had “put my heart and soul” into the store, it did not stop it from going bust. His despair stood in stark contrast with the optimism with which he opened his shop last May: in his earliest videos, Deng spoke with hope for his new life and business.
According to Deng, supply of Huawei devices to his store started to plunge around September. There were often spells of more than 10 days without any shipments at all. He gradually became frustrated with what he saw Huawei’s opaque management of its supplies, lamenting in several videos that there was no predictability as to when he would be getting new phones.
“Every day I wished for the star, the moon and Huawei phones,” he said in a video posted in February, the month that he closed his shop.
Deng said he had lost 100,000 yuan.

Huawei’s remaining reserves of Kirin 9000 chips, the ones used in Huawei P40 models, may still be able to support limited production of the upcoming P50 and Mate 50, according to a recent report from Tencent News. Production of most mid-range and budget phones has been discontinued.
The shortage has created a black market for Huawei handsets. Ben Xu, a resident in the southern city of Guangzhou who promised to gift his employees Huawei phones late last year, said he was forced to pay an additional 500 yuan for each unit he bought.
“There is no way you can get Huawei phones through the regular channels,” Xu said.
While Huawei phones remain beloved by some of its most loyal fans – the foldable Mate X2 sold out within one minute of its online debut – some analysts said Huawei might soon lose its edge to rival brands.
“Oppo and Vivo already have a very strong offline retail strategy. They are likely to be the biggest beneficiaries of Huawei’s current plight. Realme is also showing strong momentum in becoming an important player in the market,” said Counterpoint’s Qi.


In China, Huawei’s smartphone star is quickly fading as US sanctions bite

People walk past a Huawei logo on the facade of its store at a shopping complex in Beijing, China, on July 14, 2020. Photo: Reuters

(200224) -- SHENZHEN, Feb. 24, 2020 (Xinhua) -- A commercial tenant makes a call to his client in a market which has not been completely reopened at Huaqiangbei commercial area in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 24, 2020. Huaqiangbei, a renowned commercial area in Shenzhen for electronics markets, has set up some 100 tents outdoor for commercial tenants to help them resume businesses with epidemic prevention and control measures. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian)

An empty Huawei distributor store at Donlim Emperor Court, a shopping centre in Foshan, Guangdong province, China in February 2021. Photo: Foshan

Second Brother, a former Huawei distributor store owner, in one of the videos he shared online. Photo: Screenshot/Xigua Video

A permanently closed Huawei store in Donlim Emperor Court, a shopping centre in the southern Chinese city of Foshan, Guangdong province, China, on March 4, 2021. Photo: Josh Ye

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Tech War

Business

Abacus


The Chinese telecoms giant is expected to produce much fewer smartphones this year after US restrictions blocked its access to key hardware and software
Plunging supplies of Huawei phones are forcing franchise retailers to close stores or switch to selling other domestic brands



US restrictions have vastly reduced Huawei’s ability to supply new smartphones, forcing retailers to shut franchise stores or switch to selling other domestic brands.


In China, Huawei’s smartphone star is quickly fading as US sanctions bite

The Chinese telecoms giant is expected to produce much fewer smartphones this year after US restrictions blocked its access to key hardware and software Plunging supplies of Huawei phones are forcing franchise retailers to close stores or switch to selling other domestic brands

The Chinese telecoms giant is expected to produce much fewer smartphones this year after US restrictions blocked its access to key hardware and software

Plunging supplies of Huawei phones are forcing franchise retailers to close stores or switch to selling other domestic brands