Due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak in China, many factories have since been forced to shut down. Also, due to people getting sick or being suspected of having the virus, many are being quarantined which ultimately affects the workforce. This is why it doesn’t come as a surprise to learn that Apple has since issued a warning about potential iPhone supply shortages.According to Apple, “While our iPhone manufacturing partner sites are located outside the Hubei province — and while all of these facilities have reopened — they are ramping up more slowly than we had anticipated. The health and well-being of every person who helps make these products possible is our paramount priority, and we are working in close consultation with our suppliers and public health experts as this ramp continues.”
In addition to warning about potential iPhone shortages, Apple has also issued a warning to investors about possibly missing their revenue guidance for March. This is due to how Apple had previously shuttered some of its stores in China due to the virus, which has also affected third-party retailers.
The company notes that while they are slowly reopening their stores in the region, they note that these stores will have reduced operating hours, which has affected customer traffic, which in turn could ultimately affect how products the company can sell, at least through its stores.