Apple shuts flagship store in China as sales slip

Closure marks Apple's first on mainland China as rival brands such as Huawei surge

- BY JUSTIN VARGHESE Your Money Editor

Apple is closing one of its two retail stores in the Chinese city of Dalian next week. While it may seem like a minor operational move, it points to something much bigger.

The decision marks the US tech giant's first-ever closure of a directly operated store on the Chinese mainland, and comes amid a mix of declining iPhone sales, a changing retail environment, and intensifying competition from homegrown tech giants.

The store, located in the Parkland mall now rebrand-

Despite Dalian shutdown, Apple insists it remains committed to China, where it still operates 57 stores across Greater China.