Reliance on sales in China puts Apple to test

China has been one of Apple’s most reliable strongholds during its historic stretch of technology dominance. Even when sales began to level out in the US, Europe, and Japan, China was a buffer, promising a massive market of newly middleclass customers looking for a high-end, brand-name smartphone.

Sales in Greater China, which also includes Taiwan and Hong Kong, grew 84% to $58.7bn (€54.2bn) in 2015, making it the company’s second-biggest market after the US.

Apple chief executive Tim Cook showered the region with praise at the time for its importance to the company’s future.