It turns out that lack of demand is not the reason that Apple cut some iPad 2 orders. Instead, the Cupertino based company is simply making room for iPad 3 orders.

Digitimes reports that the first iPad 3 parts have begun to ship. Taiwan-based manufacturers Career Technology, Flexium Interconnect, and Sunflex tech are already sending flexible printed circuit boards for the iPad 3.

The number of circuit boards shipped, including both iPads, will stay the same, despite the news yesterday that Apple lowered iPad 2 orders for the fourth quarter of 2011 by 25%. Factories that produce iPad parts are still operating at full capacity.

iPad 3 parts may be shipping already, but that doesn’t mean that we’re going to see a new version in the near future. Manufacturing and acquiring all of the individual components takes time, months even. This is inline with expectations – all signs point to an early 2012 release.

[via Digitimes]