Apple iPhone 14 Pro likely still in short supply as Trendforce cuts estimates
Apisorn

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) warned in November that disruptions in China related to COVID-19 would mean less iPhone 14 Pro shipments and now research firm Trendforce has cut its shipment forecast again. 
The research firm believes that 78.1M iPhone 14 units were shipped in 2022, down from a previous estimate, citing continued labor shortages at Foxconn's main production facility in Zhengzhou, China.
TrendForce also cut its estimate for iPhone shipments in the first-quarter of 2023 to 47M, down from a previous estimate of 52M, as the aforementioned labor shortages may not be resolved by then. 
"TrendForce further points out that Chinaâs supply chain has started to experience a labor shortage this December," the research firm said in a statement, adding that China made a "significant change" to its COVID-19 policy ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday. 
China has continued to remove much of its draconian zero-COVID policies in recent days, most recently easing up on restrictions for international travelers and reclassifying COVID-19 to a Category B virus.
Earlier this month, Foxconn said that the "closed-loop" system that had been in place at its plant in Zhengzhou, China, had been lifted. 
Zhengzhou is widely believed to be Foxconn's largest iPhone assembly plant and the manufacturing giant has offered bonuses of 1,000 yuan, or $141.11, to employees who refer people who get hired to help boost employment numbers at the plant.
Foxconn, also known as Hon Hai Precision (OTCPK:HNHPF), recently reported a sharp drop in its November revenue stemming from the COVID-19 lockdowns and worker unrest at the Zhengzhou plant.
Last week, investment firm Needham cut its revenue and earnings estimates for Apple (AAPL) for 2023, citing "weak iPhone demand" in China.