Supply chain issues have affected the entire technology industry this year and companies have had a tough time. It seems that Apple was also affected more heavily than anticipated. The company is said to have had to halt iPhone and iPad assembly several times in October.
This is a very important indicator, as Apple has stopped making iPhones for the first time in more than a decade, and this stop typically comes at a time when production will increase. According to Nikkei’s report, the shutdown took place exactly at the beginning of October. As new models arrive during this period and the Christmas shopping season begins, normally iPhone production has accelerated, even increasing it to 24 hours a day. That is, it was the point at which demand was highest.
It is possible to talk about different reasons as to what caused this stop. It is estimated that the chip crisis and power usage limitations in China could be the main reasons. These limitations must have prevented the production of more than 150 companies in Apple’s supply chain. The quarantines in Vietnam and Malaysia may also have affected iPhone production.
It is thought that Apple will produce 20% less iPhone 13 than planned this year. It is expected that iPad production will decrease by 50% and the production of the old model iPhone by 25%.