Apple Affected by Semiconductor Shortage "Q2 Revenue Expected to Decrease by $3 Billion to $4 Billion"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Apple has recorded record-breaking earnings, but concerns are emerging that the ongoing global semiconductor shortage could hinder this performance in the future.

According to Bloomberg on the 28th (local time), Apple announced that it posted $89.58 billion in revenue for the first quarter of this year (the second quarter of the U.S. fiscal year, January to March). This represents a 53.7% increase compared to the same period last year, marking the highest quarterly revenue ever.

However, despite these strong results, concerns are being raised that growth may slow due to the worldwide semiconductor shortage crisis.

On the same day, Luca Maestri, Apple’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), said during a conference call, "Sales of iPads and Macs stood out as remote work expanded due to COVID-19 lockdowns," adding, "However, due to the semiconductor shortage, we expect a revenue decrease of $3 billion to $4 billion in the next quarter."

Apple CEO Tim Cook stated, "Apple has not yet experienced any direct impact from the semiconductor shortage," but expressed concern, saying, "However, due to the semiconductor shortage, we may not be able to fully meet the increasing demand for iPads and Macs going forward."

Recently, Apple announced new iPad Pro and Mac models equipped with the custom M1 processor, but both products are expected not to begin shipping until late May. This is an unusually long delay.

Meanwhile, Apple’s iPad division posted $7.8 billion in revenue this quarter, showing a remarkable 78.9% growth compared to a year ago. The Mac business, including laptops and desktops, also recorded a 70% increase, reaching $6.86 billion in sales. This is interpreted as a result of increased demand for laptops and tablets due to the surge in remote work and online classes amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.