IKEA to close seven stores in China amid strategy shift

IKEA will close seven stores in China from Feb. 2 and said it will move from scale expansion to a more selective approach, planning over ten small stores in the next two years with new openings expected in Dongguan and Beijing in the first half of 2026.

IKEA announced it will close seven stores in China, with the closures taking effect from February 2. The announcement was posted on the company's official WeChat account. The move comes as retailers face muted consumer sentiment in China after a prolonged property-sector slowdown. Key points: - IKEA will close seven stores in China from Feb. 2. - Affected locations include suburban Shanghai, Guangzhou, and second-tier cities such as Nantong, Xuzhou and Harbin. - The company has about 40 stores in mainland China and has recently opened five new stores. - IKEA said it will shift from scale expansion to "precise cultivation," planning to open more than ten small stores in the next two years and expecting new openings in Dongguan and Beijing in the first half of 2026. Summary: IKEA's announced closures reduce its physical presence in several Chinese cities and reflect broader headwinds in the retail market. The company reported a shift toward smaller-format stores and online channels, with specific new openings expected through mid-2026.