Apple is moving ahead with talks to establish a production site for MacBook laptops in Thailand, signaling a strategic shift as the company looks beyond its traditional manufacturing base in China amid geopolitical and trade uncertainties. The discussions involve key suppliers that already operate factories in Thailand, with three known partners weighing a plan to assemble and manufacture MacBook components and modules in Southeast Asia.
A senior manager from one supplier described Thailand as a location with ample factory space that could be repurposed to support Apple’s production ambitions. The plan anticipates a phased approach, with some work on assembly starting in Vietnam and then transitioning to a dedicated facility in Thailand to streamline operations and logistics.
Another supplier executive noted that new production facilities are being built in Thailand to accommodate Apple’s needs, with one facility expected to come online within the year. The expansion underscores a broader push to diversify production sites across the region while maintaining efficiency for global supply chains.
Industry coverage indicates that Apple laid out an initial timeline for mass-producing MacBooks in Vietnam during the first half of 2023, marking a milestone as a flagship device would be partially produced outside of China for the first time. This shift aligns with broader moves by several tech leaders to regionalize manufacturing to mitigate risk and improve responsiveness to market demand.
Sources indicate that Apple has already been producing the Apple Watch in Thailand for more than a year, and the establishment of repeatable business processes there has helped the company build a more robust regional footprint. The experience gained in Thailand is informing how Apple scales other product lines within Asia.
Ming-Chi Kuo, a noted analyst formerly with TF International Securities, has outlined the factors behind Apple’s decision to partially relocate production from China to other countries, including Thailand. The approach reflects a strategic balance between cost considerations, supply security, and proximity to key markets.