Apple warns iPhone shipments will be delayed due to Covid restrictions at Foxconn plant

Apple has said it expects fewer iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone Pro Max shipments than previously anticipated as Covid-19 restrictions temporarily disrupt production at an assembly facility in Zhengzhou, China.

Its main Zhengzhou plant in central China, which employs about 200,000 people, has been rocked by discontent over stringent measures to curb the spread of Covid-19, with many workers fleeing the site.

The impact on production comes amid a traditionally busy time for electronics makers ahead of the year-end holiday season, which is also a prime time for vendors of consumer goods like Apple.

Foxconn said it would implement new Covid-19 measures at the Zhengzhou plant including moving all working employees into three dormitories.

An official statement said residents in the area, about 16 miles south-east of Zhengzhou, were barred from leaving home and must be PCR tested once a day. Public transport services were suspended and only approved vehicles are allowed on the roads. Other measures included the closure of offices, non-essential shops and services.

In late October, workers were filmed fleeing the site after complaining about their treatment and provisions via social media. Nearby cities have drawn up plans to isolate migrant workers fleeing to their home towns, to prevent the spread of the virus.

Zhengzhou, a city of nearly 13 million, is struggling to contain its worst outbreak in months while keeping its economy on an even keel.

China is the last major economy wedded to a strategy of extinguishing Covid outbreaks as they emerge, imposing snap lockdowns, mass testing, and lengthy quarantines despite the widespread disruption to businesses and international supply chains.

With Reuters and Agence-France Presse