Analyst ups iPad shipment forecast

12.9 million of Apple's new devices will be shipped this year, according to iSuppli

iPad shipments will rise to over 50 million by 2012, according to iSuppli

An analyst has virtually doubled its iPad shipment forecast for 2010, arguing that production issues are now the only thing holding Apple back.

iSuppli said it expects Apple to ship 12.9 million of the devices this year, almost double the previous forecast of 7.1 million it issued in April. Shipments will rise to 36.5 million in 2011 and 50.4 million in 2012, it predicted.

The research house upped its forecast after concluding that Apple’s acceleration of its component demand indicates that it has raised its iPad production targets.

Rhoda Alexander, director of monitor research at iSuppli, said: “iSuppli believes that the only limitation on iPad sales now is production – and not demand.

“Apple has taken a very controlled approach introducing this product to new markets, with manufacturing limitations likely being the major inhibitor on how quickly iPad sales expand.”

Alexander added that Apple “virtually owns” the market segment iPad sits in with nearly 84 per cent share under its belt. Competition is not expected to be significant until next year when the likes of HP enters the market, she added.

“Just like the iPhone, the rest of the market is feverishly playing catch-up to the iPad at this point,” she said.