Apple to close China store amid market headwinds

In a rare move, Apple will close a store in northeastern China in August. This will be the first time it will be shuttering one of its retail locations ever since it opened its first outlet in the country in 2008. The company said that it would close its store in Dalian City’s Parkland Mall on August 9. The move comes amid weakening iPhone sales in China and signals shifting retail dynamics in the region.

The store, located in the landmark Parkland shopping centre in the northeastern city of Dalian, will cease operations on August 9, according to Apple’s official website. This closure will leave the city, which has a population of 7.5 million with just one remaining Apple-owned outlet, located in the Olympia 66 shopping complex, just a 10-minute drive away.

According to a report in the South China Morning Post, Apple attributed the closure to operational changes at the mall, which was recently rebranded from Parkland to Intime City following a change in management.

In a statement, the company reaffirmed its commitment to customer service across Greater China and noted that other retailers had also exited the complex, pointing to a wider trend of shifting retail activity.

Apple currently operates 57 stores across Greater China, which includes mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. It is also planning to open a new store in Shenzhen on August 16, reflecting its broader retail strategy in the region despite selective closures.