Apple says 2 million iPhone 5 were sold on the Chinese mainland in the first three days since sales began last Friday.

Industry insiders said the figure reflected the popularity of iPhone 5 in China, the world's biggest mobile phone market, and Apple's improved distribution and supply in its second biggest market after the United States.

"Customer response to iPhone 5 in China has been incredible," Apple's Chief Executive Tim Cook said in a statement yesterday. "China is a very important market for us and customers there cannot wait to get their hands on Apple products."

Figures for initial sales of previous iPhone models in China were not available.

In September, when the iPhone 5 made its debut in nine countries and regions, including the United States and Hong Kong, more than 5 million phones were sold in the first three days.

Apple's partners on the mainland, China Unicom and China Telecom, launched sales at midnight last Thursday, earlier than the Apple Stores which opened at 7am on Friday.

"Everyone who comes to our store is able to get an iPhone 5 because we have stocks for two or three days," Zhu Yan, China Telecom's Shanghai-based marketing official, said.

Previously, people had to queue for several hours at Apple Stores to buy products such as the iPhone 4 and iPad 2 when they were launched.

"It's really easy this time because you can buy it everywhere," said Xu Min, a software engineer who bought a white 16GB phone from Bailian's online store.

20,000 in Shanghai

In Shanghai, more than 20,000 iPhone 5 smartphones were sold in the first 24 hours through Chinese carriers, Apple Stores and retailers such as Bailian, Gome and Suning.

The China sales were part of the fastest iPhone roll-out yet, with the device scheduled for introduction in 100 markets by the end of the year.

It's the first time that Apple's released the initial sales figures for the Chinese market, and the move was probably designed to lift confidence in the capital market, analysts said.

China contributes 15 percent of Apple's revenue.

Over the Christmas season, Apple is expected to sell 49 million iPhone 5 globally, according to Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster.