Apple has been placing orders for new MacBook Pros recently and the strong shipments are expected to last until the end of 2016, since Apple is optimistic about the sales in the fourth quarter, according to sources from the upstream supply chain, who added that MacBook shipments in 2017 are also expected to stay at the same level as in 2016.

The sources are seeing an increased shipment proportion of Apple's new MacBook Pro and they expect Apple and the related revenues and profits to all enjoy growth in 2017.

The sources pointed out that Apple was not initially very aggressive about placing new MacBook Pro orders and was also said to have delayed the product' shipment schedule by a quarter due to low yield rates for some components including hinges, battery and keyboard. However, Apple has started turning aggressive after the launch in October.

Thanks to the recent rising MacBook Pro shipments, some market watchers expect Apple's MacBook shipments to reach 15 million units in 2016, with shipments staying at that level in 2017.