Apple is closing its Parkland Mall store in Dalian, China, on August 9, citing operational changes at the mall. Employees will be relocated to a nearby store, and Apple insists this is not a sign of a larger withdrawal from China.
Apple will shut its store at Parkland Mall in Dalian on August 9, marking its first-ever physical store closure in mainland China since it entered the market nearly two decades ago. According to a report in the South China Morning Post, the firm blamed the decision on "operational changes" at the mall, which was recently renamed as Intime City under new management. Additionally, Apple saw that additional stores had left the complex, indicating a more significant change in the dynamics of local shopping.
Employees from the shop will be offered positions at another Apple location at Dalian's Olympia 66 mall, which is only three kilometres away.
Apple emphasised that the shutdown is an individual move and not part of a larger withdrawal from China. The firm presently has 46 stores in mainland China and 56 in Greater China, and it claims it is still dedicated to the market, with additional locations planned in Shenzhen, Beijing, and Shanghai.
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Nonetheless, the decision comes as Apple is under increasing pressure in China's competitive smartphone market. In the April-June quarter of 2025, Apple dropped to fifth position in market share, shipping 10.1 million devices and accounting for only 15% of the total, trailing Huawei, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi.
Analysts attribute the fall to a mix of causes, including increased competition from domestic companies, rising nationalistic feeling, and a general economic slump. According to 9to5Mac, Huawei's recent revival, particularly with the debut of its Mate series, has reduced Apple's premium sector supremacy.
Even while Apple's sales are still quite high worldwide, the Chinese market poses a special difficulty. Price is a major concern for consumers, and local smartphone manufacturers provide fiercely competitive choices. As a result, Apple has refocused its retail approach, emphasising flagship stores with strong traffic and bolstering its digital environment.
Even though the Dalian shutdown is Apple's first in China, it currently appears to be more of a tactical change than a strategic withdrawal.
