Apple yet to confirm the elusive product, let alone ship 30 million units

Sep 26, 2012 12:13 GMT  ·  By

Research and Markets has released a white-paper featuring a lowdown of the suppliers Apple has lined up for the rumored iPad mini, as well as estimates on the number of units Apple will push by year’s end.

Laura Wood, senior manager at Research and Markets, says her firm anticipates overall 7.85 iPad mini production to reach 30 million units in 2012.

Not only has Apple not confirmed the device, but there’ still debate as to whether the company will hold a second event this fall to lift the cloth off this product.

Nonetheless, analysts continue to push their estimates onto investors, with the ones at Research and Markets noting that “TPK and CMI are expected to be the major lamination makers with -17M and -13M units of production forecast respectively by the end of 2012.”

In the company’s view, Nitto Denko and Nissha Printing are just two of Apple’s Japanese suppliers “likely to benefit from this huge demand forecast upside.”

They also note that AU Optronics may be forced to improve yield rates in its panel production to ensure enough supply in 3Q12.