Hon Hai seeks 200,000 workers for Shenzhen iPhone 13 factory: report

Taipei, Oct. 11 (CNA) iPhone assembler Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. is embarking on a 200,000-worker recruitment drive in Shenzhen as it ramps up production of the new iPhone 13, according to the China-based business news outlet eastmoney.com.

Hon Hai is seeking to recruit those heading back to the city following China's seven-day Oct. 1 National Day holiday, to help with churning out the estimated 100,000 iPhone 13s produced by the site each day, the report said.

Following the global release of the iPhone 13 in September, Hon Hai has entered its traditional peak season. Workers at its Chinese production sites are said to be working from day to night to meet demand, the report said.

China has been suffering an energy crunch, triggering power rationing in various provinces including the country's manufacturing hubs Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Guangdong province, home to its Shenzhen operations.

However, the report said Hon Hai did not experience interruptions in Shenzhen as the company was able to relocate power used in other plants in other provinces to the Guangdong factory during the long holiday. This has ensured the iPhone 13 lineup is rolled out on schedule.

Hon Hai, also known as Foxconn globally, reported total consolidated sales of NT$585.73 billion (US$20.92 billion) for September, an increase of 25.6 percent from a year earlier and 46.41 percent over the previous month.

According to Hon Hai, their September sales figures were the highest so far this year. Analysts attributed the growth to an increase in orders from Apple Inc. for production of the new iPhone.

Analysts said the new iPhone 13 series is expected to continue to push up Hon Hai's shipments in the fourth quarter, with demand forecasts for the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max appearing solid.

Hon Hai is believed to serve as the sole assembler of the two larger iPhone 13 models. It is also thought to be responsible for 65-70 percent of assembly orders for the entire iPhone 13 series.

In addition to its Shenzhen site, Hon Hai's production complex in Zhengzhou of China's Henan province is also tasked with assembling the iPhone 13 range.

However, unlike its Shenzhen counterpart, the Zhengzhou complex has not kicked off any massive hiring campaigns yet, according to the report.

Fellow Taiwanese contract electronics manufacturer Pegatron Corp. is involved in production of the smaller iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini at its production compound in Shanghai.