Analysts lower Apple iPad sales forecasts for 2011

Recent word that Apple is falling behind on iPad shipments is leading some analysts to lower their sales forecasts for the company.

Manufacturing research firm IHS iSuppli is cutting its yearly forecasts for iPad sales after receiving reports that Apple is encountering manufacturing problems.

LCD screens are a particular headache at the moment, according to IHS iSuppli, as quality control issues are slowing production.

The analyst firm has lowered its 2011 forecast from 43.7 million iPad sales to 39.7 million, which still represents a 163 per cent increase over 2010. IHS iSuppli predicts that 62.6 million iPads will be sold in 2012.

The iPad 2 has been in heavy demand since its release in March. The tablet was greeted with long queues at retailers and waiting times for online orders which at times stretched over three weeks.

Further threatening to complicate matters is the recent disaster in Japan. Apple executives said at the company's quarterly earnings call earlier this week that quick thinking by employees had resulted in contingency plans which should prevent any shortage of components in the near term.

Analysts have also suggested that Apple's standing in the tablet market could also help the company to gain early access to hardware components as manufacturers start to return to normal operations.