Apple asks Asian suppliers to make 10% more iPhones, suppliers warn Apple about coronavirus impact

Nikkei Asian Review:

Apple has asked its suppliers to make up to 80 million iPhones over the first half of this year, people familiar with its planning told the Nikkei Asian Review, a rise of over 10% on last year’s production schedule that could boost the company’s near-record share price.

And:

However, suppliers warned that blistering pace of production could be complicated by the outbreak of the coronavirus in China’s Hubei Province, given that their main manufacturing centers are in nearby Henan and Guangdong provinces, with more than 100 confirmed cases as of Monday afternoon, and in Shanghai, with over 50 confirmed cases.

Good news, bad news. And no way to truly gauge the coronavirus impact.

As to sales impact, I suspect that people will be willing to wait longer for their iPhones if Apple can’t make them fast enough.