It’s already practically impossible to get an iPad 2 without ordering it online and waiting weeks for it to come, but supplies could get shorter and waits longer as Japanese suppliers are affected by the devastation that has struck the country over the last week.
ccording to a report by HIS iSuppli, there are at least five parts used in the iPad 2 that are sourced from supplier in Japan and could be in short supply soon. The parts that could be affected are the touchscreen overlay glass from Asahi Glass Co. (5201.TO), NAND flash memory chips from Toshiba Corp. (6502.TO), anelectronic compass from AKM Semiconductor, dynamic random access memory by Elpida Memory Inc. (6665.TO), and the system battery from Apple Japan Inc.
The report from IHS iSuppli stated, “While some of these suppliers reported that their facilities were undamaged, delivery of components from all of these companies is likely to be impacted at least to some degree by logistical issues now plaguing most Japanese industries in the quake zone.” In addition, many employees are having problems getting to their jobs and some factories in quake-plagued areas are unable to get back into production due to aftershocks.
Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster also commented on the situation in Japan, saying that some manufacturers of components for both the iPad 2 and the iPhone 4 have closed their factories temporarily to survey the damage. “It appears no one has a good handle of the extent of damage and when production willresume.”
Apple has already postponed the launch of the iPad 2 in Japan and could be forced to delay next week’s scheduled worldwide rollout if it cannot produce the necessary stock. It seems like the iPad 2 shortage isn’t going to end anytime soon.
Apple is already having problems meeting the demand for the iPad 2, and the situation could get worse due to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
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