On 24 August, media reports said the US government is considering approving Apple’s purchase of products from Chinese memory makers, in a move to ease the storage supply pressure the company currently faces.
According to the reports, Apple has already been testing DRAM and NAND chips from two Chinese memory suppliers. If later cleared for the supply chain, the relevant products are expected to be used mainly in Apple devices sold in the Chinese market.
It is understood that the US government is preparing to formally approve Apple’s procurement of memory chips from the two suppliers, with a decision possibly announced in September this year. As of now, the report has not been confirmed by either the US government or Apple.
Apple has also recently signalled a willingness to broaden its supply base. On its earnings call, the company said it would keep evaluating different suppliers to optimise its supply structure and seek price improvements.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has said publicly that the company is assessing all options. It currently has three main DRAM suppliers, and bringing in more vendors would help secure supply and could bring pricing benefits. When Chinese memory products will formally enter Apple’s supply chain remains uncertain.
Editor’s note: This is an adapted translation of the original Sohu Technology report. It has been trimmed and restructured for readability for an international business audience.