Apple warned buyers and clients on Sunday that it expects to ship fewer iPhone 14 Professional and iPhone 14 Professional Max items because the world’s most precious tech agency grapples with the continued Covid-19 lockdown in China.

The corporate mentioned it continues to see sturdy demand for the professional fashions of the brand new iPhone 14 lineup, however the lockdown restriction has prompted it to slash its earlier cargo estimates. The warning comes at an important time for Apple as the corporate, like many others, prepares for the vacation procuring season.

“The power [located in Zhengzhou, China] is at the moment working at considerably lowered capability. As we have now accomplished all through the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re prioritizing the well being and security of the employees in our provide chain,” the corporate mentioned in a weblog submit.

China ordered a seven-day lockdown of the world surrounding Foxconn’s flagship plant in Zhengzhou earlier this month, doubling down on the same restriction positioned on the area final month.

The meeting line, often called iPhone metropolis, is the most important manufacturing web site for Apple’s smartphones and residential to about 200,000 employees. The Foxconn-owned plant produces 4 out of 5 of the present era iPhone handsets, in accordance with analysts at analysis agency Counterpoint.

In a separate announcement, Foxconn mentioned on Sunday that it could “revise down” its personal outlook for the fourth quarter and that it was working with the authorities to “resume manufacturing to its full capability as rapidly as potential.”

Like many corporations, Apple has been navigating methods to maintain its merchandise shipments amid a world provide chain disruption for over two years. The disclosure surrounding the shipments on Sunday is uncommon for Apple, which has largely chosen to make such disclosures at its quarterly earnings calls.

The replace, nonetheless, doesn’t come as a shock. Apple chief govt Tim Prepare dinner mentioned within the latest earnings name final month that offer for the iPhone 14 Professional and iPhone 14 Professional Max have been “constrained” since launch. “We proceed to be constrained at this time and so we’re working very exhausting to fulfil the demand,” he mentioned on the decision.

The corporate mentioned Sunday that it was “working intently with our provider to return to regular manufacturing ranges whereas guaranteeing the well being and security of each employee.”