As Apple shifts away from China, iPhone exports from India soared to ₹1.5 trillion in FY25, fueling a 54% boost in India’s overseas smartphone shipments.
Apple’s iPhone exports from India reached ₹1.5 trillion (approximately $17.4 billion) in the 2024-25 fiscal year, according to Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting. This surge highlights Apple’s efforts to diversify its manufacturing base away from China.
Overall, India’s smartphone exports surpassed ₹2 trillion for the same period, reflecting a 54 per cent increase from the previous fiscal year. A Bloomberg report has attributed this growth to India’s expanding role in global smartphone production, with Apple playing a key part in this transformation.
The rise in exports comes after Apple faced disruptions in its Chinese operations due to strict COVID-19 lockdowns. The company has since focused on ramping up production in India, which is aligned with the government’s goal to make India a manufacturing hub.
To support this, the Indian government has offered subsidies, aiding firms like Foxconn and the Tata Group’s electronics division in scaling up local iPhone assembly.
Although Apple is shifting more production to India, it still faces challenges. The company continues to rely on China’s robust supply chain, with approximately 80 per cent of its iPhones still being produced there.
Furthermore, despite efforts to move manufacturing to India and Southeast Asia, a complete shift away from China is unlikely in the short term due to the high costs and time needed to rebuild the necessary industrial ecosystem.
In response to potential tariffs from the Trump administration, Apple has also been increasing its inventory and directing more Indian-made devices to the US market. This shift is part of the ongoing adjustments prompted by trade tensions and the global manufacturing landscape.
