The COVID-19 restrictions have "temporarily impacted" production at the world's largest iPhone factory in central China's Henan Province, Apple said on Sunday in a statement, warning for lower shipments and longer wait times for customers.

The primary iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max assembly facility in Zhengzhou city is currently operating "at significantly reduced capacity," the statement said. 

Foxconn's massive factory is located in Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone, which is undergoing a week-long lockdown from November 2 to Wednesday, media reports said.

Despite strong demand for Apple's products ahead of the holiday season, "we now expect lower iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max shipments than we previously anticipated", Apple said.

"Customers will experience longer wait times to receive their new products." 

The company also said it is working closely with its supplier to return to normal production levels.

In a separate statement Monday, Foxconn said its fourth-quarter earnings this year would take a hit from the coronavirus outbreak.

Foxconn is China's biggest private sector employer, with over a million people working across the country in about 30 factories and research institutes.

The company was initially "cautiously optimistic" about its fourth-quarter earnings, it said.

"But due to the pandemic affecting some of our operations in Zhengzhou, the company will 'revise down' the outlook for the fourth quarter," Foxconn said in a statement.

"Foxconn is now working with the government in [a] concerted effort to stamp out the pandemic and resume production to its full capacity as quickly as possible," the company said.

Foxconn has started recruiting workers from Monday and is expected to recover its capacity as soon as possible after the lockdown finishes on Wednesday, Taiwan media Economic Daily News reported on Monday.

(Cover photo via CFP; With input from AFP)