Production ramp of Apple's next-gen MacBooks creating labor shortages in China

DigiTimes reports that demand for Apple's redesigned line of 2012 MacBooks is so strong that Apple’s component suppliers are facing a labor shortage as they racing to produce enough parts to supply the Mac maker's production lines.

"Component manufacturing plants in eastern China have been suffering from labor shortages for a long time, and although May and June are the IT industry's traditional slow season when shortage issues are usually not as significant, the strong orders from Apple's new MacBook are leaving many upstream makers unable to satisfy demand."

DigiTimes said suppliers expect Apple's total MacBook orders in 2012 to jump from 12.79 million in 2011 to between 16.24 and 19.2 million in 2012. These numbers suggest that Apple would sell an average of over 4 million notebooks each quarter. By comparison, Apple sold an average of 3.2 million notebook systems per quarter in 2011.

However a quick analysis of the production figures outline in the article suggest the sources are referring to combined production of both new MacBook families, as Apple in January reported total sales of 12.87 million notebook systems during calendar year 2011, which roughly coencides with the 12.79 million production figure.

The report, however, doesn’t say whether Apple will update MacBook Air family or a completely redesign line of MacBook Pros.