In India, Apple’s work to bring key suppliers to building iPhone manufacturing facilities is now widely known. This is an accelerated project, and the nation is expected to be making at least 25% of all iPhones within the next year or so, mostly through Taiwanese firms based there. India’s giant Tata group has also grabbed a slice of Apple’s pie.
Apple partners are also expanding into the other hot spots such as Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand. We’re seeing Macs and other Apple products manufactured in those places, in addition to — and sometimes instead of — China.
China takes its slice
But China isn’t sitting still. Large Chinese firms are also investing in manufacturing across Southeast Asia. Big names including Goertek, BYD, and Luxshare are also setting up shop. Apple’s own suppliers list confirms that around a third of its 35 suppliers in Vietnam are owned by Chinese firms. Like Apple, which will open its first Malaysian retail store in Kuala Lumpur on June 22, they are chasing growth as more traditional markets (China and elsewhere) experience slowdown.
