Chinese coronavirus would slow down iPhone production for 2020

The Chinese coronavirus is currently worrying populations all over the world, due to the contagion and expansion of the virus, particularly in China. It has also already caused several dozen deaths in the country where it originated. The latter having also taken drastic measures to stem the contagion. The city of Wuhan, the center of the epidemic, is blocked, with all means of public transport shut down. The country has also closed its borders with its neighbors.

Beyond the coronavirus and its potentially very serious consequences for humans, the situation and the measures taken by governments, and China in particular, also involve notable commercial consequences.

While Tim Cook and Apple sayready to help pto fight against the virus, the apple company has already been forced toreduce its activities in China. It has already closed offices, Apple Store and call centers, for a period of until February 9, and even later if necessary.

Additionally, a new report from renowned analyst Ming Chi Kuo confirmsprevious fearson the production capacity of Apple's Chinese subcontractors. The specialist in predictions for the Californian firm is indeed counting on iPhone production to be reduced by 10% for the first quarter of 2020, due to the coronavirus and the measures taken to stop the epidemic.

The iPhone model that would be most affected by slowed production would be the new iPhone SE 2, expected in March. But as our confidants from MacRumors point out, Apple could very well present this new model during a spring keynote and offer it for sale afterwards, but with limited stocks initially. This will obviously have notable consequences for the Californian firm: stock shortages, whatever one wants to believe, are never desired by a manufacturer, let alone beneficial.

In total, Ming-Chi Kuo forecasts around 36 to 40 million iPhones produced for the first quarter of 2020, which is 4 to 5 million fewer than previous predictions have announced so far.

Editor-in-chief for iPhon.fr. Pierre is like Indiana Jones, looking for the lost iOS trick. Also a long-time Mac user, Apple devices hold no secrets for him. Contact: pierre[a]iphon.fr.