According to BrightWire, a business-to-business resource for portfolio managers, Tokyo's national media conglomerate Nikkei is reporting today that Japanese firms, who supply Apple with approximately 40% of the iPhone 5 components, are experiencing sluggish iPhone 5 sales. These suppliers are now stating that they may be forced to look for business elsewhere to fill the void. In addition to LCD panels, Japanese firms such as Sony Corp., TDK Corp., Toshiba Corp., and Murata Manufacturing Corp. supply Apple with semiconductor memory, battery, and power source coil components. The report may confirm a December report that stated iPhone 5 sales weren't meeting expectations. While Apple's decision to drop Samsung as a supplier in many component areas may have caused them some short-term pain, sales of the iPhone 5 may rebound as soon as this current quarter.
