Kakha Sepashvili, director of iPlus declares, that the demand for mobile phones has decreased due to the refusal of installments and slowing down of interest from foreigners.
As Sepashvili explains, 70% of customers buy mobile phones in installments, while cash purchases has decreased to 15-20%.
"Overall, smartphone sales in the market decreased this month due to the fact that the share of tourists from Turkey and Eastern Europe is down. Despite the fact, that we planned various campaigns jointly with the banks, our internal statistics show that the bank gives out fewer loans than last year in this period. Also, according to our internal research, 15% of consumers are waiting for September, they know that the new iPhone is coming out, and many are saving money for it.
Devices have become more expensive because logistics costs are 2 or 3 times up," said Kakha Osepashvili.
The number of imported smartphones decreased in 5 months of 2024. According to Geostat, Georgia exported phones worth approximately USD 124 million during the reporting period, while in the same period last year, the figure stood at USD 149 million.
The main exporting market is the United Arab Emirates, from which phones worth USD 53.7 million were exported in January-May this year, followed by the Czech Republic with a volume of USD 25.5 million, and Hong Kong - with USD 11.8 million.
