Apple: product manufacturing slowed by Covid-19 in China

The resurgence of Covid-19 cases on Chinese territory should slow down the production of  Apple brand products  and in particular the new iPhone 14. As the holidays approach, the American giant announced in a press release that its main production site , in Zhengzhou, "is currently operating with a significantly reduced capacity ", since the discovery of a sick home.

"As we have done since the start of the pandemic, we are prioritizing the health and safety of workers in our supply chain. Customers are going to have to wait longer to receive their new products," the company added. apple mark.

Foxconn , the brand's main contractor, said "the group's outlook for the fourth quarter was initially optimistic, but due to the pandemic affecting some of our operations in Zhengzhou, the company will revise this perspective downwards,” the Taiwanese company informed.

Apple did not specify the extent of the impact of containment and these new increases in restrictions on its financial results.

Apple said in a statement on Sunday that it has temporarily reduced iPhone 14 production because of Covid-19 restrictions at its primary iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max assembly plant in Zhengzhou, China.

The factory, operated by Foxconn, is operating at “significantly reduced capacity,” Apple

 said. It warned that it would ship fewer units and that customers would experience longer wait times when ordering devices.

Apple’s warning brings up the possibility that it may sell fewer iPhones in the December quarter because it is having trouble making enough to meet demand. It previously signaled slowing growth in the December quarter last month.

It said that it continues to see strong demand for the affected models, which are higher-priced than other iPhone models and start at $999 and $1099.

In the past week, China has ordered lockdowns in Zhengzhou, where Apple does the majority of its iPhone production. The factory in China has grappled with employees fleeing the facility because of its Covid policies and outbreaks, according to Reuters.