Supplier Sales Numbers Bode Well for Apple (AAPL)

If you need another indicator of increased demand for Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) products heading into its third-quarter 2012 earnings release -- slated for July 24th -- look no further than to suppliers.

According to data out of Taiwan's Hon Hai (Foxconn), revenue in June rose 44 percent to NT$65.83 billion. The number was up 5.4 percent from May.

Second-quarter revs rose 29 percent from the first quarter, while sales in the first-half of 2012 popped 78 percent to NT$331.05 billion.

Looking ahead, Hon Hai sees the third quarter as its weakest, with the launch of Microsoft's (Nasdaq: MSFT) Windows 8 expected to make fourth-quarter 2012 numbers the strongest of the year.

Hon Hai is the lead supplier for Apple, meaning any positive sales number might lead to stronger than expected data from Apple. The recent release of the new iPad and expansion into China should affirm Hon Hai's numbers.

Apple is slightly higher on the session, eschewing broader market moves.

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