Apple sales disappoint in China

Disheartening April-to-June sales of Apple’s (AAPL.NASDAQ) iPhone 4S, coupled with the less-than-frenetic launch of the iPad 3, have analysts questioning the company’s continued appeal for its products in the Chinese market, Reuters reported. “To put it plainly, consumers are getting a little bit tired of the look of the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 4S,” said an analyst from research firm IDC, TZ Wong. Apple sales from China, including Taiwan and Hong Kong, totaled US$5.7 billion at the end of the third quarter in June, a 27.8% drop from its sales volume in the January-March period. Tim Cook, Apple’s chief executive, attributed approximately half of the quarter-to-quarter decline to “changes in the inventory channel.” Disappointing Apple sales had ripple effects on its Asian suppliers with Taiwan’s Hon Hai (2317.TPE) and South Korea’s LG Display (LPL.NYSE) dipping 4% and Japan’s Toshiba (6502.TYO) falling more than 7%.