Apple’s Supply Chain Gearing-up for 80Million iPhone Sales in 2014

DigiTimes is citing supply-chain sources as stating that Apple is gearing-up its iPhone 6 production plans for an anticipated 80 million sales by year-end. If achieved, it would represent 33 percent year-on-year growth.

Makers in the iPhone supply chain are preparing parts and components for production of up to 80 million units of iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus before year-end 2014, according to sources at Taiwan-based iPhone supply chain.

Apple aims to ship 80 million units of the iPhone 6-series products before the end of 2014, higher than the 60 million units of the iPhone 5 shipped in 2013, the sources indicated.

Barring the occurrence of component shortages and low yield rates, shipments of the iPhone 6s should be able to reach 10 million units by the end of September and total 60-70 million in the fourth quarter, the sources estimated.

As ever with DigiTimes, the number should be taken with a large dose of salt: while manufacturers will be aware of their own order-books from Apple, and thus have some degree of insight into the company’s expectations for early sales, it’s a stretch to extrapolate from that to sales targets up to the end of the year.

We won’t have too long to wait for a good indication of how well the new models are selling. They go on sale on Friday 19th, and Apple is expected to issue its usual announcement of opening weekend sales on Monday 22nd September. Last year, Apple announced a record 9M iPhone sales in the first three days.

This year’s opening weekend numbers may take a hit, however, with the New York Times reporting that regulatory problems may mean the new models won’t go on sale in China – a massive market – on 19th September.

Source: 9to5Mac

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