Africa's mobile phone market started 2017 off with a drastic quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) decline according to the latest figures announced today by International Data Corporation (IDC).

The global technology research and consulting firm's newly released Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker shows that overall shipments for the first quarter of the year in Africa totaled 54.5 million units, down -8.2% on Q4 2016.

IDC states that this was primarily due to a stark -17.6% decline in the smartphone segment, with shipments falling from 25.8 million units in Q4 2016 to 21.2 million units in Q1 2017.

"When viewed year-on-year (YoY), the overall mobile market was up 8.4%, primarily due to feature phone shipments growing from 26.6 million units in Q1 2016 to 33.3 million units in Q1 2017," the company adds.

The IDC says that feature phones have now been rising as a proportion of the total market for more than a year, which highlights the continuing importance of basic mobile communications in many parts of Africa, particularly in rural areas.

The drop in smartphone shipments in Q1 2017 was caused by substantial QoQ declines in the continent's three largest smartphone markets – South Africa (-13.6%), Nigeria (-8.1%), and Egypt (-11.5%).

"In South Africa, the drop was mainly due to high levels of stock in the channel from previous quarters," says Nabila Popal, a senior research manager at IDC. "Nigeria's decline was caused by the ongoing recession in the overall economy as well as difficulties in accessing foreign currencies for imports, while continuing exchange-rate difficulties were also behind the major decline seen in Egypt."

The smartphone markets in Morocco and Algeria also performed poorly in Q1 2017, although the QoQ declines were much less drastic at -2.2% and -1.5%, respectively.

"Morocco's economy was significantly impacted by a stalemate in the government that is delaying the disbursement of budgetary funds, while Algeria's unstable politics continue to dampen consumers' willingness to make discretionary purchases," says Soufiane Bouhaji, a research analyst at IDC. "Tunisia was the only market in North Africa to record a QoQ increase in smartphone shipments (0.5%) in Q1 2017 and that was mainly due to the country's healthier macroeconomic environment."

The East African markets performed stronger than any other region in Africa in terms of smartphone shipments for Q1 2017, with Tanzania and Uganda seeing substantial QoQ increases of 8.1% and 11.6%, respectively.

The Kenyan market, which has seen big gains in smartphone shipments over the last two years, was more subdued in Q1 2017, with shipments declining slightly by -1.3 % QoQ.

In terms of vendor rankings, Samsung remains the continent's leading smartphone vendor, with 29.8% share in Q1 2017, up on the previous two quarters but slightly down on Q1 2016.

Its big rival in Africa, the China-based Transsion group, took second place with 23.9% share of the smartphone market, thanks to its diversified portfolio of mid-range phones and strong focus on the ˂$150 price segment.

In the feature phone space however, it is Transsion that dominates not Samsung, with its Tecno and itel brands accounting for three out of every five feature phones shipped across the continent in Q1 2017.

"IDC expects Africa's overall smartphone market to slowly rebound from its current lull to a state of growth," says Bouhaji. "Despite the tough macroeconomic conditions currently inhibiting much of the region, smartphone prices continue to fall and this will drive their adoption across Africa. Almost 40% of all smartphones shipped in Africa in Q1 2017 were priced below $80, up from 28% just two years earlier. Mobile data charges are also becoming more affordable, while increasing use of video-sharing applications and improving penetration of over-the-top services are further encouraging smartphone adoption."

IDC is forecasting that Africa's smartphone shipments will remain flat this year, but for growth to resume in 2018 as the economy gradually recovers.

Drop in MEA's PCD market

The research and analysis firm also recently announced that the MEA region's personal computing devices (PCD) market recorded an -8.8% year-on-year decline during the first quarter of 2017.

According to the IDC's Quarterly PCD Tracker for Q1 2017, PCD shipments fell to around 6 million units for the quarter, the lowest levels recorded since Q4 2011.