Apple could lose 6 million iPhone Pro smartphones due to factory protests in China

Apple could reportedly lose 6 million iPhone 14 Pro smartphones due to protests over COVID-19 restrictions near the Foxconn factory in Zhengzhou, China.

According to Taiwan's Fubon Research, Foxconn is the world's largest iPhone manufacturer, producing 70 percent of Apple's smartphones.

Foxconn's Zhengzhou plant produces the vast majority of the world's most in-demand iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, which made up for the drop in demand for the regular iPhone 14 models.

Bloomberg reminds us that Apple lowered its overall production target this year from 90 million to 87 million units. Earlier this month, Apple and Foxconn said shipments of their latest premium iPhones would be lower than expected because of a quarantine in China, without providing details. They now believe Zhengzhou will produce 6 million fewer iPhones than planned and expect to make up the shortfall as early as 2023, agency sources said.

Immediately after Bloomberg's report on the risks of a 6 million drop in production, Apple shares on the Tradegate exchange in Germany fell 1.9%.