Global shipments of all wireless earbuds are forecast to surge from 48 million pairs in 2018 to 129 million pairs by 2020, according to Counterpoint. Huawei is launching a trial production period of its wireless AirPods in China in a bid to reduce reliance on Vietnam . One of the company's key partners, Chinese acoustic component manufacturer Goertek , is set to test the resilience of its northern Vietnam factory with a phase of limited output, ahead of potential mass production, marking the first time the earphones have not been assembled in China , after shipping 35 million in late 2016 . Apple is looking to source 15% to 30% of its output from outside China as the labour cost benefits in the world's second largest economy begin to diminish.
Huawei is launching a trial production period of its wireless AirPods in China in a bid to reduce reliance on Vietnam . One of the company's key partners, Chinese acoustic component manufacturer Goertek , is set to test the resilience of its northern Vietnam factory with a phase of limited output, ahead of potential mass production, marking the first time the earphones have not been assembled in China , after shipping 35 million in late 2016 . Apple is looking to source 15% to 30% of its output from outside China as the labour cost benefits in the world's second largest economy begin to diminish.