In the past fiscal year, Apple exported over 1.5 trillion rupees (approximately $17.4 billion) in iPhones from India, highlighting the company’s strategy to reduce reliance on China, according to the nation’s technology minister.
With a significant increase in iPhone shipments, India exported smartphones valued at more than 2 trillion rupees for the fiscal year ending in March 2025. This marked a 54 percent surge compared to the previous fiscal year, as reported by Tech Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw during a news briefing in New Delhi.
Apple’s swift expansion in India has come in the wake of strict COVID-19 restrictions, which had severely impacted production at its main iPhone manufacturing facility in China. This shift aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of transforming India into a manufacturing powerhouse. Indian government subsidies have also played a crucial role, aiding Foxconn Technology Group and the electronics manufacturing division of Tata Group, which acquired Wistron Corp. and Pegatron Corp.’s factories in India, in enhancing local iPhone assembly operations.
Apple did not provide a comment in response to inquiries made regarding these developments.
The potential tariffs proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump on Chinese imports, including a threatened additional 50 percent tariff, may encourage Apple to further relocate manufacturing operations to India and other Southeast Asian nations. However, a total transition away from China remains improbable in the near future.
In anticipation of these tariffs, Apple has been increasing its inventory levels and directing more devices manufactured in India toward the U.S. market, as reported by Bloomberg News. The Trump administration also revealed plans to implement a “reciprocal” tariff of approximately 27 percent on India, which is comparatively lower than the tariffs on China.
Despite these initiatives, about 80 percent of Apple’s iPhones continue to be produced in China, indicating the complexity and cost associated with relocating its extensive industrial ecosystem to different countries will likely take several years.
The resilience of China’s supply chain is considered a key factor that bolsters President Xi Jinping’s negotiating stance with the U.S., reinforcing his assertive image domestically.
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(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
