Reuters is reporting that Sharp, one of the primary producers of display panels for Apple’s mobile devices, has cut production of full-size iPad displays at one of its plants. The sources did not indicate the reason for the cuts, but it may be a combination of consumers focusing on the smaller iPad mini, and normal seasonal slowdown as the industry comes out of the holiday period.
Sharp Corp has nearly halted production of 9.7-inch screens for Apple Inc’s iPad, two sources said, as demand shifts to its smaller iPad mini.
Sharp’s iPad screen production line at its Kameyama plant in central Japan has fallen to the minimal level to keep the line running this month after a gradual slowdown began at the end of 2012 as Apple manages its inventory, the industry sources with knowledge of Sharp’s production plans told Reuters.
Apple also farms out iPad display panel production to Samsung and LG Display, but sources at Samsung say there have been no production slowdown there, and LG Display sources suggest any cuts in production are merely in line with seasonal reductions.
