Foxconn's Profits Slide 31% as iPhone Sales Continue to Drop

Following in line with a slump in iPhone sales, Apple manufacturer Foxconn recently reported a 31 percent decline in profits in the second quarter of 2016. For the full quarter, ending in June, Foxconn was said to have amassed a net profit of 17.7 billion New Taiwan dollars, down from NT$25.7 billion a year earlier. Analysts watching the company had expected a revenue of around NT$23.9 billion for the quarter (via The Wall Street Journal).

A doom and gloom sentiment began surrounding Apple, and its overseas manufacturers, soon after the Cupertino-based company reported its first quarterly sales decline since 2003 in April. Despite a strong presence of the iPhone SE in the market, iPhone sales continued to contribute to an overall revenue decline for the company as the year continued.

foxconn_workers_2
The slump in the iPhone market now appears to be fully affecting Apple's manufacturing partners with the news out of Foxconn today, but both companies are looking forward to an uptick in sales in the future. Notably, Foxconn's acquisition of Japanese electronics maker Sharp has been officially approved by Chinese antitrust authorities, "clearing the final hurdle" in the lengthy buyout process. With the acquisition over, it should be easier for Foxconn to move forward with not only manufacturing of parts for the iPhone 7, but potentially even ramping up development of AMOLED displays and glass casings for the 2017 iPhone.

Overall, weak demand for the iPhone 7 -- due to a "lack of innovation" -- was predicted by a group of Apple suppliers in May. Multiple companies, like Japan Display and Taiwanese Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, reported fears of both huge net profit declines and a worrisome decrease in chip orders thanks to an overall declining iPhone market. Still, Apple CEO Tim Cook is optimistic about iPhone sales moving forward, saying that he sees "so many signs that are positive" as the company moves towards the iPhone 7 and iOS 10 in the fall.

Tag: Foxconn
Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

Apple Announces Special Event in New York Feature

Apple Announces Special Event in New York, London, and Shanghai on March 4

Monday February 16, 2026 6:05 am PST by
Apple today announced a "special Apple Experience" in New York, London, and Shanghai, taking place on March 4, 2026 at 9:00am ET. Apple invited select members of the media to the event in three major cities around the world. It is simply described as a "special Apple Experience," and there is no further information about what it may entail. The invitation features a 3D Apple logo design...
Apple Announces Special Event in New York Feature 1

Apple Event on March 4: Here's What to Expect

Tuesday February 17, 2026 8:08 am PST by
Apple on Monday invited selected journalists and content creators to a "special Apple Experience" on Wednesday, March 4 in New York, London, and Shanghai. At an Apple Experience, attendees are typically given the opportunity to try out Apple's latest hardware or software. Following the launch of Apple Creator Studio last month, for example, some content creators attended an Apple Experience...
Apple Announces Special Event in New York Feature 1

Rumor: Apple to Announce Multiple New Products in First Week of March

Tuesday February 17, 2026 6:35 pm PST by
Apple on Monday invited selected journalists and content creators to a "special Apple Experience" on Wednesday, March 4 in New York, London, and Shanghai. And now, rumors are surfacing about Apple's broader plans for that week. Daring Fireball's John Gruber today guessed that Apple will announce new products on a day-by-day basis from Monday, March 2 through Wednesday, March 4:What strikes...
iphone 17 pro dark blue 1

Gurman: iPhone 18 Pro Could Be Underwhelming

Monday February 16, 2026 4:24 am PST by
Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models "won't be a big update," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that the iPhone 18 Pro models will "represent minor tweaks from last year's iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max." He compared the upgrade to Apple's past practice of appending the letter "S" to its more minor...
CarPlay Liquid Glass Dark

iOS 26.4's New CarPlay Video Feature Shown in Action

Wednesday February 18, 2026 9:29 am PST by
Back at WWDC 2025, Apple revealed that it was planning to allow CarPlay users to watch video via AirPlay in their vehicles while they are not driving, and the first beta of iOS 26.4 suggests the feature may be nearing availability. There are several new references to CarPlay video streaming functionality within the iOS 26.4 beta's source code. The feature is not yet visible to users, but...

Top Rated Comments

Mathias Denichi Avatar
124 months ago
"so many signs that are positive ('https://www.macrumors.com/2016/07/26/tim-cook-optimistic-iphone-7-sales/')"

Must be interesting to live in a world with Cook tinted glasses.
Score: 44 Votes (Like | Disagree)
S.B.G Avatar
124 months ago
I wonder if the slump isn't just about a "lack of innovation" but maybe more, or at least partly, due to market saturation. So many people have iPhone's now and other smartphones that eventually sales would slow down at some point.

This whole "doom and gloom" sentiment seems silly to me at this point. The companies are still making money hand over fist here and they're not even close to going under or anything like that.
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)
124 months ago
The prices guys, the prices.

This is the begin of the end if Apple can't compete with Nexus cheaper models. I mean, why a new buyer should pay 600+$ instead of half the price for a 5X? And the 5X is not a bad smartphone at all. It's super good indeed!
I don't want to start realizing that there's no reality in the shareholders eyes. In this world Android is becoming more tough to beat, the iPhone cannot stand only on his name and on Steve's heritage. Ok Swift, ok good design, ok Apple, wow amazing! YOLO: but the troubles are emerging now more than ever.
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JosephAW Avatar
124 months ago
I hope Apple is not blaming Foxconn or their employees for this decline, the blame falls squarely in the head of Apple's CEO, Tim Cook.
They need new leadership that's interested in innovating again instead of promoting social policies as their top priority.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ginkobiloba Avatar
124 months ago
So they'll sell it as the music lover's iPhone: stereo speakers, 'digital quality' Lightning earphones / wireless earphones and the new Music app.
Bluetooth earpods are very much the opposite of the music lover's wishes. If there is one category they will NOT be able to sell the iPhone 7 to , it's precisely the music lover. They all have invested in expensive quality headphones and they all now need to carry at all times a dangling fragile adapter.

Also, there is no such thing as a "digital quality" earphones. Our ears are analog and all digital information has to be converted into analog before reaching the earphones.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Jmausmuc Avatar
124 months ago
After reading all the rumors about the new iPhone I really don't even know how thy are going to advertise it.

No headphone jack is a huge no go for many people I have talked to, myself included.

And the rumors also point to most other things staying virtually the same.
The 6S is already blazing fast so a faster processor is unlikely to convince anyone to go out and upgrade their phone either.

wht is their strategy for the new phone? Only people with yearly free upgrade plans and expiring contracts?

What am I missing?
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)