Apple supplier Foxconn expected to run iPhone factory at full capacity by early January

Apple’s primary iPhone manufacturer Foxconn is expected to resume smartphone production at full capacity by early January, according to a report that cites  an unnamed person with knowledge of the plans.

Apple has seen iPhone production output decrease dramatically due to COVID-19 outbreaks amongst staff and mass worker unrest over pay and working conditions at the supplier responsible for over 60% of Apple’s iPhone production.

Following the issues, it is now understood that “the situation has stabilized,” with the staff hirings at Foxconn factories underway to help return iPhone manufacturing lines to their previous output volumes.

The assembly issues have seen customers unable to order the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max – Apple’s two most popular iPhone models – in the run up to the holidays, with respected industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggesting that shipments of the devices could be up to 20 million units lower than expected over the fourth quarter of 2022.

Shipping estimates for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max stretched beyond the holidays in mid November, leaving shoppers unable to order the devices from Apple for delivery prior to Christmas.

In late October, Apple said that due to COVID-19 outbreaks in China, production of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will be lower than anticipated in the run up to the holiday shopping season, and that customers will experience longer wait times to receive their new products.