Retailer Says Russia's Jan-Mar Mobile Handset Sales Up 5.9% on Year

MOSCOW, April 10 (Prime-Tass) -- Mobile handset sales in Russia rose 5.9% on the year to U.S. $1.26 billion in January-March, Russia?s largest mobile handset retailer Euroset said in a report released Monday.

In physical terms, Russia's mobile handset sales fell 16.7% on the year to 6.53 million units in the quarter, the retailer estimated.

The average price of a sold handset rose to $193 in January-March from $151.60 in January-March 2005, Euroset said.

The average price grew due to growing replacement rate and to a shortage of mobile handsets inspired by legal action in August 2005.

The replacement rate rose to 67% in January-March from 65% in 2005, Euroset said. The retail price for mobile handsets increased by 15%-17% after Russian police seized a large number of illegally imported handsets and eliminated several channels of imports in August last year, the retailer said.

Euroset said that customers purchased 1.6 million mobile handsets worth $380 million with consumer loans in Russia in January-March.

Nokia accounted for 26% of total sales in the period, Samsung accounted for 19%, Motorola for 18% and Siemens for 14%, while the rest was split among minor handset manufacturers, Euroset said.

In April-June, sales of mobile handsets are expected to amount to 7.8 million units worth $1.5 billion, Euroset said.

Mobile handset sales in Russia rose 11% on the year in 2005 to 33.5 million units worth $5.5 billion, or 28% up on the year, Euroset said earlier.

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Posted to the site on 10th April 2006