Apple is struggling with the same crisis as the rest of the industry and the company is set to take another blow to its operations.

According to the tech giant, shipments of iPhone 14 models will be “temporarily affected” by Covid restrictions in China.

Last week, China’s largest iPhone assembling site faced a Covid outbreak that caused a problem for the tech giant.

Statement

On Sunday, Apple issued a statement to shed light on the situation.

The company says that its Zhengzhou assembly plant is operating at reduced capacity due to Covid restrictions.

“We continue to see strong demand for iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models,” Apple’s statement reads.

Despite the positive news, the company still expects fewer deliveries than expected for the Pro models.

They also point out that customers will have to wait longer to receive their new iPhones.

Read also: Apple continues positive streak amid inflation

Outbreak and lockdown

The Zhengzhou factory is one of the tech giant’s largest suppliers.

Foxconn, Apple’s largest supplier, operates the Zhengzhou factory.

Since mid-October, the facility has been fighting a Covid epidemic causing panic among migrant workers.

Last week, authorities ordered a seven-day shutdown of the factory site.

The lockdown, while necessary, is putting pressure on Foxconn and Apple, especially as the holiday season begins soon.

It also highlights the impact of China’s strict zero Covid policy, which is hurting domestic and international businesses.

China’s approach

Recently, global and Chinese companies across various industries have been facing severe business disruptions.

The disruption comes from China, which is stepping up its zero-covid approach.

While things are unlikely to improve anytime soon, China’s State Council reiterated its unwavering commitment to zero-covid policy at a press conference on Saturday.

The pledge statement comes after rumors were circulating that the Chinese government was easing restrictions on the pandemic and reducing quarantine days.

Read also: Flash report: EU looking to phase out Apple’s Lightning connector in favor of USB-C

Other notes

While the tech giant is the latest victim of China’s zero Covid policy, Apple is doing better than its compatriots in the tech industry despite the global economic downturn.

In October, Apple beat Wall Street analysts’ sales and earnings expectations for the September quarter.

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Apple expects iPhone 14 shipments to be hit by China’s Covid curbs