Haier in Chinese Markets
By 2004, Haier had overtaken domestic rivals and defended its ground against encroaching
multinationals to become the number-one appliance company in China. While several firms held a
top-three position in a particular market such as washing machines or air conditioners, Haier was the
only company with leading shares across white goods sectors (Exhibit 6). Haier was dominant in the
RMB 48 billion refrigerator and freezer market, which accounted for about 38% of all white goods
sales in China. In 2002, Haier’s share of the country’s refrigerator market was 27% by volume and
52% by revenue, and analysts estimated that the company accounted for 61% of industry profits.
National Competitors