We have previously reported the intentions of the Apple in expanding the manufacture of its products beyond the China. Despite the “symbiotic relationship” with the country, problems involving strategic tensions and losses due to the pandemic are making the company move part of its production lines to nations like India e Vietnam.
In addition to these regions, another country where Apple may move its production, specifically that of MacBooksand the thailandaccording to Nikkei Asia. Apple Watches have been produced there for regarding a year and the company’s suppliers have offered facilities in Thai territory as an alternative to expanding to Vietnam. The idea would be to produce Apple computers and/or their parts.
Suppliers already have factories in Thailand; one of them is even building new manufacturing units aimed at Apple. In addition, a test line for the assembly of MacBooks would have already been created, although the Cupertino giant still wants to have a factory in Vietnam as a second option.
However, as we have already commented before, this process of transferring production from place to place is not easy. O Nikkei he highlighted the issue of the lack of qualified labor to work in the factories — something that, when dealing with such advanced products, can be a sensitive obstacle. Workers from countries such as Cambodia and Laos are being recruited, although the costs of doing so also pose a challenge.
Sources in the vehicle stated that Apple is really looking to leverage its production capacity outside of China and that suppliers would be helping it in this process. The representative of a consultancy, however, stated that despite plans for manufacturing in Thailand, Apple would not be so enthusiastic regarding the idea, preferring Vietnam, which is closer to China.
In any case, it is visible how the so-called “decoupling” of China is taking place. In 2018, Apple had 14 suppliers in Vietnam; the number increased to 25 in 2021. There, lines such as AirPods, Apple Watches, MacBooks and iPads are already produced – and it seems to be a matter of time for production numbers in other Asian countries other than China to also increase.
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