Starbucks Trading Volume Plummets 39.31% to $632 Million as China Sale Rumors Swirl

On June 25, 2025, Starbucks (SBUX) experienced a significant drop in trading volume, with a 39.31% decrease from the previous day, totaling $632 million. The stock price also declined by 0.44%, marking the third consecutive day of losses, with a total decrease of 2.17% over the past three days.

Starbucks has been the subject of speculation regarding its operations in China. The company has clarified that it is not considering a full sale of its China division, despite rumors and reports suggesting otherwise. This clarification comes after Chinese financial magazine Caixin reported that 20 potential buyers, including private equity firm Hillhouse Capital, have been in talks with Starbucks China. The company has stated that it sees significant long-term potential in the Chinese market and is evaluating the best ways to capture future growth opportunities.

Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol has emphasized the company's commitment to China, describing the competition in the market as "extreme" and referring to Luckin Coffee's dominance. Niccol has also mentioned that the company is open to various strategies to achieve growth in the region. This marks the first time Starbucks has used the phrase "full sale" when discussing its options for China, suggesting that a partial sale might be considered given the competitive pressures.

In response to the rumors, Starbucks has shuffled its top leadership team in China, including the promotion of Molly Liu to sole CEO of the division and the appointment of the first chief growth officer last December. These changes indicate the company's focus on strengthening its operations and capturing growth opportunities in the Chinese market.