Kuo lowers iPhone shipment expectations because of coronavirus impact
- feb
- 03
What you need to know
- Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has reduced his iPhone shipment predictions.
- He reduced it by 10% to 36-40 million units.
- He is concerned that the coronavirus outbreak could impact production.
Apple has already closed offices, stores, and contact centers in China.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has revised his iPhone shipment predictions for the first quarter of 2020 over concerns that the Chinese coronavirus outbreak will impact Apple's manufacturing abilities. That's according to a research note picked up by MacRumors. The outbreak began in Wuhan, China, with Apple having already closed all offices, Apple Stores, and contact centers on the mainland.
As a result of concerns over manufacturing capabilities during the outbreak, Kuo has now revised his shipping estimate by 10%, resulting in a 36-40 million unit range.
While iPhone suppliers are keen to show that it's business as usual it's thought that production of the new iPhone 9 – assuming that's a thing, of course – could be impacted. The device is rumored to be heading into mass production right about now with the coronavirus potentially impacting that.
With coronavirus now very much a worldwide issue as cases pop up in all corners of the globe, it's possible things could go from bad to worse for all companies. Not just Apple.