Follow CGSP on Social Media

Listen to the CGSP Podcast

With Apple Reducing Its Manufacturing Dependence on China, Why is So Much Going to Asia and So Little to Latin America?

by Eric Olander
File image of a Taiwan-owned manufacturing facility for Apple located 60km outside of Bangalore, India. Manjunath Kiran / AFP

Apple is reportedly moving faster to relocate more of its production to countries outside China and reduce its longtime dependence on Taiwan-based contract manufacturing giant Foxconn.

Eventually, the Cupertino-based electronics giant aims to ship 40-45% of iPhones from India, while Vietnam will emerge as a hub to produce other items including AirPods, watches and laptops, according to Ming-chi Kuo, a supply chain analyst at TF International Securities in Taipei and widely regarded as the world’s foremost Apple watcher. 

Lead the Conversation on China

Subscribe Today to Get Full Access to The China-Global South Project

Check Out Everything You'll Get With Your Subscription

The China-Global South Daily Brief delivered to your inbox at 6AM Washington time

Full access to exclusive news and analysis from editors based in the Global South

Transcripts of CGSP’s twice-weekly podcasts

Students and teachers with a valid .edu email address are eligible for a 50% discount off monthly or yearly subscriptions. Email us to receive a discount code.

You Might Like

Why Vietnam and Other Asian Countries Won’t Replace China as an Electronics Manufacturing Hub Anytime Soon

There’s growing excitement in some corners of Washington, D.C., that Apple’s drive to shift production to other countries in Asia is a sign of progress in the ongoing effort to ...

Apple’s “Out of China” Moves Continue Apace With MacBooks Now Set to Be Produced in Vietnam

Add MacBooks to the growing list of Apple products that the tech giant now plans to produce “Out of China.” The Cupertino-based company will reportedly begin manufacturing the laptops in Vietnam in mid-2023, 

Apple’s Use of India to Limit its Exposure to China Is Part of a Broader Trend 

The relocation of a portion of Apple’s iPhone 14 manufacturing from China to India is reportedly going surprisingly smoothly, getting underway weeks ahead of schedule. The move is an example of 

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

Subscribe