MacBooks May Become 'Assembled in Thailand' as Apple Diversifies Supply Chain

[MacRumors]

Apple may expand MacBook production to Thailand in the future as the company continues to diversify its supply chain, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

In a series of tweets today, Kuo said the main production location outside of China for Apple's future MacBooks may be Thailand. Kuo noted that Apple's entire range of MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models are currently assembled in Chinese factories.

Kuo said Apple plans to increase shipments of products to the U.S. from non-Chinese factories within the next 3-5 years, but it's unclear if this would include MacBooks assembled in Thailand within that timeframe. Apple's longtime MacBook supplier Quanta Computer has been expanding its operations in Thailand over the last few years.

Apple has expanded its supply chain beyond China over the past several years, with some production now occurring at factories in India and Vietnam. Kuo said this diversification helps Apple to avoid risks like U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports.

Article Link: MacBooks May Become 'Assembled in Thailand' as Apple Diversifies Supply Chain

 

[infiniteentropy]

This would be a relief to see happen. Apple's reliance on China has presented Apple with numerous problems they cannot fix.

 

[Eldaerenth Faexidor]

Good news for Thailand. Lovely people. Please add free Thai fish cookies. They’re delicious!

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Please let it be true as long it's not China on the list.

 

[jz0309]

good move ... given the latest news about the US-china trade relations ...

 

[jav6454]

This is good, less reliance on China. That’s always a plus.

 

[JM]

Why is this political?

(I know why, I’m just asking a rhetorical question. Just because China is mentioned doesn’t mean it automatically has to be political. Man, the current public landscape is ridiculous. Pretty soon just saying “I like well designed and manufactured Apple products” will be political.)

 

[JippaLippa]

This is a good thing.
It was about time companies started to detach from China.
You can't have all your eggs in the same basket.

 

[azpekt]

I'd love to see them being made in USA.

 

[lkrupp]

None of these alternate assemble sites are located in particularly stable democracies. It wasn’t that long ago that Thailand suffered a military coup.

 

[SW3029]

As long as a 15" MacBook Air is assembled in Thailand I'm cool with it

 

[lkrupp]

I'd love to see them being made in USA.

So would I. So please explain how that could happen except in our dreams. Economic realities are what they are. Labor costs are what they are. How much more would you be willing to pay for that MacBook if it were assembled in the U.S. by union workers making $35/hr with healthcare, 401K, profit sharing, and all the other perks that are now considered entitlements here.

 

[Rudy69]

I'd love to see them being made in USA.

Yet people already complain about the high cost of macs. No way apple could make this happen economically

 

[Mr. Dee]

Diversifying your supply chain is never a bad thing.

 

[GuruZac]

No matter your stance on China, diversification is a good thing.

 

[nt5672]

So would I. So please explain how that could happen except in our dreams. Economic realities are what they are. Labor costs are what they are. How much more would you be willing to pay for that MacBook if it were assembled in the U.S. by union workers making $35/hr with healthcare, 401K, profit sharing, and all the other perks that are now considered entitlements here.

The cost is not labor. The process is highly automated. The cost is regulations.

 

[BobSc]

I'd love to see them being made in USA.

Will you now pledge to buy them at the higher prices that would occur for "built in the USA"?

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

It needs to happen. Ever since the Apple Silicon transition the Mac has been better than ever, surpassing the iPad in demand and completely disrupting the PC market. So many people want 14 inch Macbook Pros, but with only having one MBP plant, and said plant being in China, an area of China that was under heavy COVID lockdown at a draconian level...yeah...

Who remembers when Macbook Pros were on backorder for two months last Spring? Man that was bad. Thank god I got my 14 inch Macbook Pro before that happened.

 

[icanhazmac]

I'd love to see them being made in USA.

And I'm willing to pay for it.

 

[boak]

Good to see assembly being diversified. Hope Apple is planning the same for component production.

 

[Ashbash75]

Love Thai ping pong.🤣

 

[ajfahey]

Tariffs aren’t a risk. They are an international trade reality designed to collect revenue and prevent full dependence on single nation corporations. It is economically and socially dangerous for any nation to be fully dependent on another nation for its national survival. Tariffs, used smartly, force diversification of supply as strategic support for national economic security.

 

[mikethemartian]

One night in Bangkok

 

[TightLines]

I'd love to see them being made in USA.

There are too many traitors in the USA to allow that to happen… If that assembly plant was only producing for that region of the world, it would be different, but its not… Those traitors mostly have their primary work offices in NYC, on a famous street where there is a statue of a Bull… they are so influential that Apple has given some of them part time employment and offices in the same suite that Tim Cook has his office… they had to wait until Steve Jobs passed away before they could get in, but they finally got in and are now leaving their mark…

 

[Ashbash75]

One night in Bangkok

"and the world's your oyster"