It was an unprecedentedly favorable quarter for Apple. Never before has the tech company converted so much as in the first three months of this year. Sales amounted to nearly 74 billion euros, 54 percent more than in the same period the year before. Profits doubled.
Of all products and services, the phones sold the best. But the sales of laptops, tablets, speakers and services such as the app store and Apple TV also grew.
It was sales outside the United States that fueled growth. More than one and a half times as much was sold in Europe. In China, which was hit hard by the corona virus a year earlier, it had just not doubled. In total, international sales accounted for two-thirds of all the company’s sales.
According to Apple chief Tim Cook, the figures show, among other things, “the optimism that consumers seem to feel about the better days ahead.”
Chip shortage hits sales now
At the same time, the company, like many other manufacturers, is facing problems due to the worldwide chip shortage. The Financial Times reports that in an explanation of the figures, Apple also says that it is already being affected by the limited supply of the chips.
Due to the shortage, fewer tablets and computers can be sold. As a result, turnover in the current quarter is estimated to be 3 to 4 billion dollars lower, converted between 2.5 and 3.3 billion euros.