Samsung's annual sales volume in China jumps

Electronics giant grabs top spot in nation's smartphone market in 2012

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, the world's largest mobile phone and television maker, said on Tuesday its sales volume in China hit $14.3 billion in 2012, a jump of more than 50 percent year-on-year.

The South Korean company said that it is ready to expand its lead in the consumer electronics sector this year and that it will also boost its business-to-business units.

"Last year, we registered the best-ever performance as the world's largest consumer electronics maker, and China is becoming one of the most important markets for Samsung," said Park Jae-chun, chief executive officer of Samsung Greater China.

In 2012, the company grabbed the top market shares in the mobile, display and flat-panel TV sectors in China, said Park.

Data from research company Strategy Analytics showed that - for the first time ever - Samsung topped China's smartphone market in 2012, with its sales nearly tripling year-on-year.

With 17.7 percent of the market share in the country, the company sold more than 30 million smartphones in China last year, up from 10.9 million the previous year.

Samsung's long-time rival, Apple Inc, ranked third, behind local electronics giant Lenovo Group Ltd.

Analysts said that as the number of smartphone users in China continues to grow, Samsung may cement its dominance even further because it has a more diversified product line than competitors such as Apple.

A total of 460 million smartphones will likely be sold annually in China by 2017, estimated IDC, an industry consultancy.

Park also pledged to provide additional services for commercial customers in China to boost revenue.

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