(Source from Reuters/Alamy)Apple said the shipment of its latest smartphone will be delayed as China’s COVID-19 blockade inevitably disrupted the operation of its iPhone production plant in the region.
Apple said in a statement on the 6th (local time) that the production of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro max was disrupted as some of the iPhone consignment production plants in Zhengzhou, China, were suspended due to the Chinese government’s COVID-19 regulations.
(Source from Reuters/Alamy)”We expect shipments of the two products to be lower than expected,” Apple said. “Customers have to wait a longer time to receive new products.”
He added, “We are working closely with suppliers to ensure the health and safety of all workers and to restore production levels to normal.”
Apple did not disclose detailed information on how much supply is not available on time.
However, last week, market research firm TrendForce predicted that iPhone shipments in the fourth quarter of this year will decrease by 2 to 3 million units from 80 million units due to production disruptions at its Zhengzhou plant.
As the number of COVID-19 patients in Zhengzhou surged, Chinese authorities ordered the closure of an industrial complex where the Chinese factory of Foxconn (Honghai Precision Industry), Apple’s largest partner, is located, for a week from the 2nd to the 9th.
(Source from Reuters/Alamy)Foxconn is Apple’s largest iPhone producer, and the Zhengzhou plant produces 80% of the iPhone 14 series and more than 85% of the iPhone 14 Pro.
The iPhone 14 series is a new product released by Apple in September and is considered the main product that will drive Apple’s performance for at least one year.
Apple’s sales are expected to be hit by a setback in production less than two months after its launch at a time when it has to start promoting ahead of the end of the year.
Earlier, Foxconn said in a separate statement that it would lower its fourth-quarter earnings outlook due to the Chinese authorities’ COVID-19 containment measures.
“Foxcon is currently working with the (China) government to eradicate the spread of infection (COVID-19) and restore the maximum production level as soon as possible,” he said.
EJ SONG
ASIA JOURNAL
