Apple could choose India over China for production: Will iPhones, iPads, MacBooks get cheaper?

Analysts quoted in the reports suggest that more than 90 per cent of Apple products including iPhones, iPads and MacBook laptops are manufactured in China by third-party contractors.

The Covid-19 lockdowns imposed in Shanghai and other cities as part of China’s anti-Covid policy have disrupted the supply chain for many Western companies. As a result, many companies, including Apple are planning to reduce their dependency on China. In April 2022, Apple CEO Tim Cook said, "Our supply chain is truly global, and so the products are made everywhere. We continue to look at optimizing."

Apple is reportedly seeing India and Vietnam as an alternative to China, according to the report. The move could influence Western companies’ decision making, as they also look to reduce their dependency on China for the manufacturing of key materials.

Apple iPhone 13 models attract 22.5% of customs duties in India. However, if Apple iPhone 13 manufacturing begins in India, then the smartphone models could sell at cheaper prices in the country.

Apple iPads and MacBooks models, which are imported to India, too attract import duties. However, if the company ramps up the manufacturing of iPads and Macbooks in India, then the prices of the popular devices could come down.