Global smartphone leader Samsung Electronics Co. is likely to eliminate 1,000 jobs in China, Chinese media reports said Tuesday, as sales of smartphones in the country become saturated.

The possible job cut would affect about 9 percent of Samsung's workforce in China, said reports by Chinese media, including the state-run China Daily newspaper.

Samsung Electronics in Seoul declined to provide details on the issue, adding it cannot comment on workforce-related policies.

The reports cited unidentified sources. Officials at Samsung's headquarters in Beijing were not immediately available for comment.

Samsung reported an 8 percent annual drop in its second-quarter net profit this year, hit by intensifying competition with Chinese companies, such as Huawei Technologies Co. and Xiaomi Inc.

Last month, technology research house Gartner Inc. said sales of smartphones in China fell 4 percent in the second-quarter of this year, marking the first quarterly decline. (Yonhap)