Apple, through its contract partners, exported $6 billion worth of iPhones from India during the April–June 2025 quarter—a stunning 82% year-over-year increase from Q1 FY25 when exports stood at approximately $3.2 billion
This performance makes it the highest‑ever quarterly export value for smartphones in India.
India’s Smartphone Export Boom: $7.72 Billion in Q1
Apple’s shipments accounted for nearly 78% of India’s total smartphone export value, which surged 58% year-on-year to reach a record $7.72 billion in Q1 FY26, up from $4.9 billion in Q1 FY25. Other exporters such as Samsung (~12%) and Padget Electronics (Dixon Technologies subsidiary) (~10%) also contributed, with Padget alone accounting for about $175 million
Government Incentives & Strategic Shifts Fuel Growth
India’s Production‑Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, introduced in 2020, has been a key enabler. Smartphone exports escalated from $3.1 billion in FY21 to $24.1 billion in FY25—with Apple contributing nearly $17.5 billion in total. The scheme incentivised global OEMs to ramp up manufacturing through partners like Foxconn, Pegatron, and Tata Electronics.
Strategic Diversification Amid Trade Tensions
The surge is also driven by Apple’s strategy to reduce dependence on Chinese manufacturing. Between March and May 2025, nearly all of Foxconn’s $3.2 billion worth of iPhones shipped from India were destined for the U.S., enabling India to account for 71% of U.S.-bound iPhone exports—up from just 31% a year ago. Despite proposed 25% U.S. tariffs under Section 232, analysts believe this shift is unlikely to derail Apple’s long-term India expansion
Regional Production Hub: Tamil Nadu Leads the Way
Tamil Nadu remains central to Apple’s India strategy. The state now produces 70–80% of India’s iPhones, supplying to global markets while enhancing infrastructure to support further scale-up
📊 Key Highlights
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Apple Q1 iPhone Exports | $6 billion (+82% YoY) |
| Total India Smartphone Exports in Q1 | $7.72 billion (+58% YoY) |
| Apple’s Share of Exports | ~78% |
| Other Exporters | Samsung (~12%), Padget (~10%) |
| PLI Scheme Impact | Enabled dramatic volume growth |
| U.S.-bound Export Share from India | ~71% of total iPhone exports |
| Regional Hub | Tamil Nadu (70–80% of production) |
📌 Why It Matters
- Global Significance: India has emerged as a major global hub for high-value electronics manufacturing.
- Trade Resilience: Apple’s continued investment signals confidence in India despite U.S. tariff threats.
- Economic Momentum: Electronics exports hit $12.4 billion overall in Q1, with smartphones accounting for 62% of the total—up from 58% last year
- Policy Effectiveness: Strong testament to the PLI scheme’s impact on shifting manufacturing value-add into India.
