The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing inductively heatable aerosol-forming rods (100). The method comprises the steps of supplying a continuous susceptor profile (20) to a continuous rod-forming process such as to enter and pass the rod-forming process along a center axis (80) of the rod-forming process, supplying a continuous substrate web (30) comprising an aerosol-forming substrate to the continuous rod-forming process such as to enter the rod-forming process laterally to the susceptor profile and passing the substrate web and the susceptor profile through the rod-forming process, thereby gathering the substrate web into a rod shape around the susceptor profile substantially coaxially to the center axis. The invention further relates to an apparatus (1) for manufacturing inductively heatable aerosol-forming rods (100). The apparatus comprises a rod-forming device (10) configured for gathering a continuous substrate web (30) comprising an aerosol-forming substrate into a rod shape around a continuous susceptor profile (20) coaxially to a center axis (80) of the rod-forming device as the substrate web and the susceptor profile pass through the rod-forming device. The apparatus further comprises a susceptor supply (21) configured for supplying the susceptor profile to the rod-forming device such as to enter and pass the rod-forming device along the center axis of the rod-forming device. The apparatus also comprises a substrate supply (35) configured for supplying the substrate web to the rod-forming device such as to enter the rod-forming device laterally to the susceptor profile.