Apple moving some iPad production from China for the first time

Apple is reportedly planning on moving some iPad production out of China and into Vietnam for the very first time, according to a new report from Nikkei Asia, which cites strict COVID lockdowns in and around Shanghai and subsequent supply chain disruptions as a contributing factor to the decision.

“China’s BYD, one of the leading iPad assemblers, has helped Apple build production lines in Vietnam and could soon start to produce a small number of the iconic tablets there,” people with knowledge of the matter told Nikkei.

Nikkei report how Apple has been considered plans to produce the iPad outside of China for some time, however, with a sudden surge in COVID-19 cases in Vietnam recently, the plans were temporality shelved.

The iPad will become the second major line of Apple’s to be made in Vietnam, following production of AirPods in the country. As noted by the report, the move demonstrates Apple’s efforts to diversify its supply chain but also “the growing importance of Vietnam to the company.”

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