Key points from the spread
- The graphic compares three supply chains: a banana, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner and an iPhone.
- The Dreamliner is drawn as an exploded aircraft with each part coloured by the country that makes it. Nine countries appear: the USA, Japan, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Korea, Canada and Australia.
- In the banana chart, retail sales take 29% of the retail price and workers 4%.
- In the iPhone chart, Apple’s profit is 58.5% of the money, material costs 21.9% and personnel costs in China 1.8%.
- The spread’s point is that for complex products a “supply chain” is really a network of firms in many countries, and the value is not shared evenly.
The global supply chain infographic in text
Running head: The Global Economy, Global Production, pages 90 and 91. Title: Who delivers the goods? Who earns the money? Introduction: Today, production and value creation are linked in global supply chains. The term “supply chain” can be misleading, however. It might be halfway accurate for bananas. For technologically complex products, networks of firms cooperate so that we can fly around the world safely, or bring the world to the screens of our smartphones.
The Dreamliner’s production locations
Legend colours: Australia, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, Canada, Korea, Sweden and USA. Each part is labelled with the part and its maker.
| Part | Maker named | Country (by colour) |
|---|---|---|
| Tail fin | Boeing | USA |
| Horizontal stabilizer | Alenia Aermacchi | Italy |
| Passenger doors | Latécoère | France |
| Rear fuselage | Vought | USA |
| Center fuselage | Alenia Aermacchi | Italy |
| Fixed leading edge and flap | Spirit AeroSystems | USA |
| Wing tips | Korean Air | Korea |
| Inboard flap | Boeing | Australia |
| Fixed trailing edge | Fuji | Japan |
| Wings | Mitsubishi | Japan |
| Engine nacelles | UTC Aerospace Systems | USA |
| Motors | Rolls-Royce / GE | United Kingdom |
| Forward fuselage | Kawasaki | Japan |
| Forward fuselage | Spirit AeroSystems | USA |
| Cargo doors | Saab | Sweden |
| Wing-to-body fairing | Boeing | Canada |
| Chassis | Safran Landing Systems | United Kingdom (by colour) |
Who earns money from a banana
Percentage of the retail price for each link in the value chain, in percent.
| Link in the banana value chain | Share of retail price (%) |
|---|---|
| Retail sales | 29 |
| Transportation companies | 23 |
| Plantation owners | 20 |
| Wholesale / shipping companies | 12 |
| Tariffs (if applicable) | 12 |
| Workers | 4 |
Where the money for your iPhone goes
By percentages.
| Where the money for an iPhone goes | Share (%) |
|---|---|
| Apple profit | 58.5 |
| Material costs | 21.9 |
| Profit by unknown parties | 5.3 |
| South Korea profit | 4.7 |
| Personnel costs outside of China | 3.5 |
| USA profit (not Apple) | 2.4 |
| Personnel costs in China | 1.8 |
| EU profit | 1.1 |
| Japan profit | 0.5 |
| Taiwan profit | 0.5 |
The Dreamliner’s real supplier network
Wikipedia’s article on the Boeing 787, drawing on Boeing and press sources, lists the main subcontracted assemblies [1]. They match most of the spread’s labels: wing and centre wing box from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Subaru Corporation in Japan (the spread credits Fuji for the fixed trailing edge), horizontal stabilisers from Alenia Aeronautica in Italy, fuselage sections from Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Japan, Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita and Global Aeronautica in Italy, passenger doors from Latécoère in France, cargo doors from Saab in Sweden, and wing tips from Korean Air in South Korea [1].
The article adds that Japanese companies co-designed and built 35% of the aircraft, the first time outside firms played a key design role on a Boeing airliner wing, and that Boeing converted four used 747-400s into Dreamlifters to fly wings and fuselage sections to final assembly [1]. It also notes the 787 is powered by either General Electric GEnx or Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines [1].
Reading the banana and iPhone charts
Both small charts make the same point in different ways. In the banana chain, almost three quarters of the price (retail 29%, transport 23%, plantation owners 20%) goes to firms along the chain, while the workers who grow and pick the fruit receive 4%. In the iPhone chart, the brand owner keeps 58.5%, more than all material costs and every other country’s profit combined, while the personnel costs of assembly in China are 1.8%.
Notes on this infographic
- Creator not identified. The scan shows only a running head (The Global Economy, Global Production) and page numbers 90 and 91. We could not find the book or atlas it comes from, so the creator is left blank.
- Banana and iPhone figures not checked. Neither chart prints a source or a year, and we could not trace the underlying studies, so the percentages are given as printed only.
- Engines. The “Motors” label names Rolls-Royce / GE but colours the part for the United Kingdom only. General Electric is a US company, and the 787 is offered with either maker’s engine [1].
- Landing gear. The chart credits Safran Landing Systems. Wikipedia lists Messier-Bugatti-Dowty (UK and France) as the landing gear supplier [1].
- Boeing parts in other colours. The inboard flap (Australia) and wing-to-body fairing (Canada) are labelled Boeing but coloured for other countries, which suggests Boeing sites outside the US. The chart does not say so.
- Rounding. The iPhone shares add up to 100.2%, presumably due to rounding.
Questions about global supply chains
Which countries make parts for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner?
Nine countries make parts for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner in the supply chain graphic: the USA, Japan, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Korea, Canada and Australia. Mitsubishi in Japan builds the wings, Alenia Aermacchi in Italy builds the centre fuselage and horizontal stabiliser, and Saab in Sweden makes the cargo doors. Wikipedia adds that Japanese companies co-designed and built 35% of the aircraft [1].
How much of the price of a banana goes to the workers?
Workers receive 4% of the retail price of a banana, according to the value chain chart. Retail sales take the largest share at 29%, followed by transportation companies at 23%, plantation owners at 20%, and wholesale or shipping companies and tariffs (if applicable) at 12% each. The chart prints no source or year, so these percentages are given as printed only.
Who makes the most money from an iPhone?
Apple keeps the largest share of the money from an iPhone, with its profit at 58.5%, more than all material costs and every other country's profit combined. Material costs take 21.9%, South Korea profit 4.7% and personnel costs in China only 1.8%. The shares add up to 100.2%, presumably due to rounding, and the chart gives no source or year.
Who makes the engines for the Boeing 787?
The Boeing 787 is powered by either General Electric GEnx or Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines [1]. The supply chain graphic labels the "Motors" Rolls-Royce / GE but colours the part for the United Kingdom only, although General Electric is a US company [1]. The 787 is offered with either maker's engine [1].
Sources
- Wikipedia, Boeing 787 Dreamliner (supplier and engine details).
Last reviewed 30 October 2026
