In a stunning display of manufacturing prowess, India has made a record leap in iPhone exports, becoming the lead player in Apple's global supply chain. Driven by growing US demand and ongoing US-China trade tensions, India's export volumes and values have hit record highs in 2025, a sea change in the global electronics sector.
Key Highlights
Indian iPhone exports rose 52–57% year over year in the first half of 2025 to 20.4–23.9 million units shipped mid-year.
Export value amounted to $22.56 billion in H1 2025, an increase from $14.7 billion last year.
March 2025 was India's highest monthly production, with Apple racing to export devices before new US tariffs.
The powerhouse manufacturers were Foxconn and Tata Electronics— Foxconn with over 50% of the total iPhone exports, and Tata's share rose to 37–40% after taking over Wistron's plant.
A record 77–97% of these units shipped directly to the US for export, from a rate of over 50% in 2024, as a result of Apple's decision to bypass stringent US tariffs on Chinese imports.
Apple has started trial production of the newly launched iPhone 17 in India with simultaneous launches in India and China for the first time ever—securing India's strategic importance for future releases.
Exports of electronics via iPhones and smartphones grew 47% to June 2025 while other traditional exports such as gems and jewellery declined.
Government-backed Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes and an increasing size of the talent pool have helped in increasing local production, with value-addition in some models crossing 20%.
Apple CEO Tim Cook reiterated the US today receives the majority of the iPhones manufactured in India, pointing to the company's efforts to expand the Indian manufacturing base despite the difficulty of wholly replacing China.
Industry Impact
India's charge is quantitatively as well as qualitatively—the most explicit indicator so far of the nation's emergence as a global leader of electronics exports and a rightful stakeholder in Apple's aspirations, as the technology giant deliberately expands its diversification of supply chains and seeks to weather geopolitical turmoil.
Source: Economic Times, NewsBytes, Moneycontrol, The Hindu Business Line, Reuters, New Indian Express, BusinessLine, Communications Today, and others.
