By Greg Gao

(JW Insights) Mar 27 -- Chinese smartphone maker OPPO plans to withdraw from Germany and the UK markets and retain a small number of employees for basic business from the middle of this year, Chinese tech media 36Kr reported recently. 

OPPO responded that the current smartphone industry is not in a time for expansion, and its key market strategies will be adjusted periodically. Meanwhile, the company will stay committed to the European market and invest in critical markets accurately and efficiently in the future. 

OPPO’s business expansion in Italy, Finland, Spain, and France is still continuing. On February 15, it released the international version of the foldable phone OPPO Find N2 Flip in London.

On February 27, OPPO participated in the 2023 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, with a variety of new products and technologies, according to the company.

An industry insider pointed out that OPPO has gained some sales in Europe but has yet to generate profits in the highly competitive market with not enough incentives for the sales agents.

After making the vast majority of its sales from its home market, OPPO started overseas expansion over ten years ago. It expanded to other Asian countries, stepping up its presence in western Asia, and Europe. OPPO ranked fourth in the global mobile phone list with a shipment of 103.3 million units in 2022 and a market share of 8.6%, according to data from market research firm IDC.