Apple seems to be facing new supply problems caused by the impact of the pandemic. FoxconnApple’s largest supplier, has been forced to suspend activity in two of its factories located in Shenzhen due to a local confinement due to the increase in cases of covid-19, as revealed Bloomberg. Although the Taiwanese also works in the production of devices from other manufacturers, the two plants that the company has in the Chinese city are mainly dedicated to the manufacture of iPhone and other Apple products.
The aforementioned medium ensures that the production of Apple devices, such as the iPhone, has been moved to other plants where the company continues to operate normally. The factories located in Shenzhen are scheduled to reopen on March 20, when the confinement decreed for the more than 17 million citizens due to an outbreak of coronavirus that has already infected more than 60 people last Sunday ends. The number of cases is not as high as that reported in cities in other countries, but China has a strict quarantine system to prevent community transmission.
The restrictions, in fact, do not only affect non-essential factories and businesses located in the city. Also to the public transport system, which will remain closed until the confinement is lifted.
Shutting down Shenzhen plants could delay production of new iPhones
Fortunately, and as detailed Bloomberg, we are at a time of year where the demand for new products by consumers is not so high. However, we must not forget that the company has recently announced new devices. Among them, a renewed third-generation iPhone SE, a new iPad Air or the Mac Studio. These products will start to be available from next March 18, and the closure of both plants in Shenzhen is likely to cause a delay in production, despite the fact that the company has moved the supply chain to other factories. This could therefore translate into a possible lack of stock and delivery times higher than usual. At the moment, only the Mac Studio shows shipping dates that go beyond March 18.
It is not the first time that Apple has been affected by a problem of these characteristics. In fact, it is a common thing. The shortage of semiconductors, caused by the high demand for devices and the delay in production due to the pandemic, has not stopped harming Tim Cook’s company. Apple has even had to take extraordinary measures in order to meet the demand for some of its products, such as the iPhone.
According to reports, in November 2021, the firm decided to limit the production of its iPad and MacBook Pro in order to have the necessary components for the manufacture of its smartphones. The number of iPhone orders was greater than the rest of the devices, and everything pointed to an increase in demand due to Christmas shopping. In this case, it is unlikely that Apple will carry out the same strategy.