Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Apple, China, India, Vietnam, And Mexico -- May 5, 2026

Locator: 50723APPLE. 

Query: Does Apple have a large manufacturing presence in Vietnam?

Reply

Query

Apple has a large manufacturing presence in Vietnam. Which might be more important as a manufacting sector for Apple, India or Vietnam?

Reply: the very short answer -- 

India and Vietnam serve different, vital roles in Apple's manufacturing, but India is arguably more important for long-term growth and volume, while Vietnam is currently critical for product diversification. India focuses on massive iPhone assembly and high-value components, while Vietnam specializes in iPads, AirPods, and MacBooks, benefiting from proximity to China.

Query: why China, then increasingly Vietnam and not Mexico? Long reply; not particularly enlightening, sort of what one expected. Reading between the lines, it amounts to this:

  • Asia (China and Vietnam) can react much more quickly; Mexico's workforce/government Is slow to react;
  • between China and Vietnam, China is much more bureaucratic (the government) and more regulated; Vietnam is troubled less by bureaucracy and regulatory control.

Recommendation: read Malcolm Harris' biography of Palo Alto, c. 2023.