Foxconn suspends production at two factories in eastern city of Kunshan, putting Apple’s China supply chain on edge

Apple’s prime supplier halted operations in its two plants located at Dianfa and Fuhong in Kunshan on April 20 after new Covid-19 cases were reported on site

That has put further strain on Apple’s supply chain in China, where a few other manufacturing partners stopped production because of coronavirus restrictions

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Foxconn Technology Group’s manufacturing operations in Kunshan have run under a “closed-loop” system, which confines employees within its four local campuses, since a citywide lockdown started in early April. Photo: Ann Cao

Published: 6:00am, 25 Apr 2022Updated: 7:25am, 25 Apr 2022

Foxconn Technology Group, the world’s largest electronics contract manufacturer and Apple’s prime supplier, has halted production at two of its factories in the eastern city of Kunshan, putting further strain on the US technology giant’s supply chain in mainland China.

Operations have been suspended since Wednesday last week after new Covid-19 cases were reported at the two plants, where employees are confined to dormitories inside those campuses, according to two workers at the affected factories, who declined to be named because they are not authorised to speak to media.

Those two dormitories have been put under strict lockdown, according to a statement by local government authorities on Thursday.

The affected Foxconn plants, located at Dianfa and Fuhong in the northern part of Kunshan, are two of four manufacturing campuses operated in the city by the Taiwanese firm, formally known as Hon Hai Precision Industry. Located in the eastern coastal province of Jiangsu, Kunshan is home to many factories run by Taiwan-based electronics companies.

Two of four Foxconn Technology Group campuses north of the city of Kunshan were put under strict lockdown from April 20, 2022, after the Apple supplier reported new confirmed Covid-19 cases. Photo: Ann Cao

The sudden halt of operations at the two Foxconn plants last week came after Kunshan authorities were expected to ease travel restrictions and allow manufacturing activities to resume in the city.

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