Apple Inc. plans to move a portion of its manufacturing outside of China

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According to those engaged in the conversations, Apple Inc. has recently accelerated plans to move a portion of its manufacture outside of China, which has long had a strong position in the supply chain that helped create the most valuable corporation in the world. In an effort to lessen reliance on Taiwanese assemblers led by Foxconn Technology Group, it is instructing suppliers to aggressively plan for producing Apple products in other parts of Asia, including India and Vietnam.

According to analysts and individuals in the Apple supply chain, the turmoil, which follows a year of events that diminished China’s standing as a reliable manufacturing hub, means Apple no longer feels safe having so much of its business tied up in one area. “In the past, people didn’t pay attention to concentration risks,” said Alan Yeung, a former U.S. executive for Foxconn. “Free trade was the norm and things were very predictable. Now we’ve entered a new world.”