Apple will tighten its grip on the supply chains of new MacBook models through direct pricing negotiations with third-party suppliers of non-key parts such as screws, metallic parts and plastics parts needed for the production of key components by contracted suppliers, a move seen to significantly squeeze profit margins of contracted supply partners, according to industry sources

Apple has reportedly decided to expand its centralized procurement coverage to include upstream materials such as copper and cobalt, and non-key parts and components from third-party suppliers. The electronics giant will reportedly directly set the prices and order volumes for such materials and minor parts and components, instead of only screening the name lists of qualified third-party suppliers proposed by contracted supply chain partners and inspecting their supply quality and shipment schedules.

Squeezing the manufacturing partners' profits is mainly aimed at further lowering production costs, having little to do with sales performance of MacBook devices.