Surging exports to $8.26 billion, billion-dollar smartphone shipments, and southern states leading the charge, it seems India is not just making in India anymore.
India’s electronics exports surged to $8.26 billion in the first two months of FY25-26 (April–May), up from $5.61 billion in the same period last year, marking a 47% year-on-year (YoY) growth, according to data from the India Cellular & Electronics Association (ICEA).
A major engine behind this surge is smartphone exports, which have consistently outperformed expectations. Earlier, in the first 11 months of FY24-25 alone, smartphone exports crossed $21 billion, surpassing the $20 billion target set by Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
The final month’s data pushed this figure even higher, easily outpacing the previous fiscal year’s performance.
“This pace reflects more than just market demand; it is the result of robust policies, industry collaborations, and India’s growing role in the global electronics supply chain. From semiconductors to smartphones, India is not just consuming tech, but we are exporting the future, and we pledge to make the future,” ICEA mentioned in a LinkedIn post about the current trend.
Apple has played a pivotal role in this success, contributing approximately $12.5 billion of the total exports. Vendors such as Foxconn, Tata Electronics, and Pegatron account for about 70% of India’s smartphone exports, with Samsung and Indian brands making up the rest.
Meanwhile, southern India is leading this export revolution. Tamil Nadu recorded electronics exports worth $14.65 billion (₹1.22 trillion) in FY24-25, accounting for 41.3% of India’s total electronics exports, up from $9.56 billion the previous year. Karnataka followed with $7.85 billion, contributing 22.09% of the national total. Together, these two states represented 64% of the country’s electronics exports.
Smartphone shipments grew consistently, starting at $4.85 billion in Q1 (a 30% YoY increase), peaking in Q3 with over $6.8 billion, and maintaining strong momentum with monthly exports above $2 billion since October 2024. The US and Europe remain the biggest markets for Indian smartphones.
Several reports and experts have highlighted that this performance has prompted the government to consider expanding the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme to further boost the ecosystem.
Read more: India Exports Smartphones Worth Over $21 Billion In FY25
