Wal-Mart is slowing its international expansion.

In the latest hint that Wal-Mart is rethinking its worldwide strategy, the world's largest retailer is eliminating more than 50 underperforming shops in Brazil and China. the pearl doha

Due to fewer store openings in Mexico and India, Wal-Mart stated this week that it will reduce its expected overseas capital spending in 2014 by $500 million, to somewhere between $4 and $4.5 billion. Although the chain continues to expand internationally, it has reduced its expected space increase by 30% in 2014, a reduction of 7 million square feet.

In a statement, Walmart International Chief Executive Doug McMillon said, "We are increasing our new store performance and e-commerce capabilities." "We are convinced that a robust framework for long-term growth and enhanced returns will be in place with controlled expansion and increasing e-commerce integration in our business."

Wal-Mart stated earlier this month that it was abandoning six-year-old ambitions to open hundreds of stores in India, citing government regulations as the reason. Wal-Mart recently canceled a joint venture with Bharti Enterprises of India to operate 20 wholesale stores, however the company still plans to operate its own wholesale business in India.

Wal-Mart has been a crucial customer for commercial property developments all over the world, and international sales were considered as a significant growth engine for the Arkansas-based business. However, the rate of growth has decreased in recent years, falling to 7.4% in the past year from 20% two years ago. Last quarter, sales at stores open for at least a year fell in Canada, Japan, Mexico, and Central America, according to the business.

"Wal-Mart International continues to be a growth engine for us, even with the reduction in square footage," said Charles Holley, the company's chief financial officer.

Walmart also declared that in the United States, it will move some of its concentration from supercenters to smaller stores. According to the firm, smaller-format stores, which are typically 20,000 to 40,000 square feet, would account for more than half of new store openings in 2015.

In the next two years, Wal-Mart expects to open more than 500 locations in the United States. In the coming year, the big box retailer intends to boost its e-commerce operation from $10 billion to $13 billion.