The New iPad preorders are completely sold out

Apple released a statement saying the supplies of the new iPad, which had been set aside for preorders, have already completely sold out.

The demand means that consumers will only be able to buy the new iPad by queuing at Apple retailers or through one of the company’s authorized resellers, when it is released on March 16.

According to an Apple spokeswoman, customer response to the latest offering had been “off the charts”.

However, Apple refused to release any specific sales figures.

The new iPad preorders have been delayed and will arrive three days after the official launch date.

Apple’s US website now indicates that preorders will ship by March 19 whereas earlier the site had said the newest tablet would arrive at customers’ homes by next Friday.

The delay indicates strong demand for the new iPad, which was announced Wednesday to a positive response from partner companies, analysts and potential customers.

Apple typically has allotments prepared for its online preorders, but they often are depleted within days.

Analysts expect Apple to sell roughly 9 million iPads in the current quarter.

The iPad launch came as Apple reached a rare milestone: the previous week, it was worth more than $500 billion.

Only six other U.S. companies have been worth that much and none have held that valuation for long.