Lower-than-expected demand for the iPhone X and other high-end smartphones has been blamed for the Japanese electronic component market’s slowest growth in five quarters, according to Nikkei.
Alps Electric, Kyocera, Murata Manufacturing, Nidec and Nitto Denko made combined revenues of ¥1.43 trillion ($13.1 billion) during the first quarter of 2018, a sequential growth of just 8%, the lowest recorded since the fourth quarter of 2016. Individually, Alps saw flat growth and Murata’s orders increased by 10%, while Nitto Denko’s declined by 10%.
Indeed, Apple itself reduced its iPhone X production by half after the device’s disappointing start. (Apple Cuts iPhone X Production by 50% Due to Low Sales)
