Apple Suffers Jolt in India, AirPods Manufacturing disrupted as China Stops Rare Earth Metal Exports

Earlier this year, Apple started manufacturing airpods for the first time in India. However, Apple has suffered a setback by China’s ban on export of Rare Earth Metals in April. These metals are used in manufacturing airpods. This has hindered the supply of Apple’s contract manufacturer Foxconn in Telangana factory.

A media report quoted sources who are aware of this, saying that there is a shortage of diasprosium in Foxconn’s Telangana factory. It is a rare meaning metal that is an important component in high-performance magnets used in earbuds. Along with this, neodaliamium is used to make audio drivers bringing sound in airpods. China is a big exporter of both these rare meanings. The ban on their exports of China has shocked the Apple plan of manufacturing airpods in India. A source said, “This problem in India continues for Apple and Industry.”
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There is a report that Foxconn has informed the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade and Government of Telangana about the interruption of diasprosium supply. However, despite the blockage of the supply of these rare meanings, the manufacturing of the airpods in the Foxconn factory has not stopped completely. Apple and Foxcony had an estimate of this situation a few months ago and arrangements were made to deal with it.

Recently, FoxConn removed Chinese engineers and technicians from its factories in India. This can also cause difficulties in preparing the upcoming iPhone 17 manufacturing for Apple. The number of Chinese staff extracted from Foxconn factories is more than 300. This decision of Foxconn can cause tension between the US and China regarding trade and tariffs. Foxconn has set up a new factory in Oragadam, Tamil Nadu. This indicated Apple’s plan to increase manufacturing in India. During March to May this year, Foxconn has exported about $ 3.2 billion iPhones from the country.