Apple to miss revenue due to virus

US tech giant Apple said that disruption due to the novel coronavirus had hit both production and demand in China, and the company is “experiencing a slower return to normal conditions” than planned.

“We do not expect to meet the revenue guidance we provided for the March quarter,” it said in a statement, adding that worldwide iPhone supply would be “temporarily constrained” and demand in China had been affected.

Apple had forecast revenue of $63 billion to $67 billion for the second quarter to March.

The COVID-19 virus death toll has exceeded 1,700 in China, where it has infected more than 70,500.

IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said there could be a cut of around 0.1-0.2 percentage points to global growth but stressed there was much uncertainty about the virus’s economic impact.

Apple said that “while our iPhone manufacturing partner sites are located outside the Hubei province — and while all of these facilities have reopened — they are ramping up more slowly than we anticipated.

“All of our stores in China and many of our partner stores have been closed,” it added.

“Additionally, stores that are open have been operating at reduced hours and with very low customer traffic. We are gradually reopening our retail stores and will continue to do so as steadily and safely as we can.”