Apple looks to India, Japan and South Korea for iPhone, iPad components

Apple is reportedly seeking suppliers from India, Japan, and South Korea who can deliver vital components to its contract manufacturers in India as imports from China face government restrictions in India.

Apple has been importing batteries, camera lenses, chargers, and other such key components for iPhone and iPad, mainly from China. The company is now looking to diversify its supplier base away from China, say reports.

Apple, according to a report in the Financial Times, has informed battery suppliers in China and Taiwan that it would have batteries made in India for its iPhone 16 series to be manufactured in India.

Apple has been dependent on China's Desay and Taiwan's Simplo Technology for its mobile phone battery requirements.

Simultaneously, Apple has asked battery makers in India to scale up production or set up new units for catering to its new iPhone series that would be made in India starting next year.

It may be noted that the Tata Group, the new owner of Wistron, has now become part of Apple’s supplier group, along with Foxconn and Pegatron. 

Also, Foxconn, which mainly handles Apple’s devices assembly in India, has invested more than $500 million in India to ramp up capacity.

At present, India accounts for 12.14 per cent of iPhone shipments and this is expected to go up to 20-25 per cent by next year with the iPhone 16 series production and start of the iPhone 17 series production.