A fire at South Korea's LG Chem planet back in March which has led to an overall shortage of lithium ion notebook battery component should be over in the third quarter of 2008, according to an executive statement. The shortage is said to have hurt all notebooks, especially those made by smaller, lower volume companies, which tend to receive lowest priority when supplies become available.

Per Electronista, the supply of batteries is expected to return to normal later this year, with battery makers significantly boosting production, said Sung Fu-hsang, chairman of Simplo Technology, the world's largest independent notebook battery manufacturer.

Should the turnaround occur, the resolution will arrive in time for the annual September sales boost as well as the holiday shopping season, which is only a few months away from then.

Technology firm ASUS has stated that its 5 million Eee PC sales could have been even higher had it not been for the battery shortage.

No direct comments have been made as to how the battery shortage affected Apple's notebook supply, production and pricing since the occurrence of the plant fire.

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