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India has achieved a record $10 billion (around Rs 88,730 crores at current exchange rates) in iPhone exports in the first half of FY25. This marks a steep 75% hike from $5.71 billion in the same period last year, according to The Economic Times reports.
Generally, September witnesses a dip in demand as consumers await new iPhone launches. However, this year, Apple shipped $1.25 billion worth of devices from India.
In FY25, Apple produced $22 billion worth of iPhones through its vendors, of which 80% were exported from India. Retail market prices are typically 50-60% higher. Production in India has jumped to $22 billion in FY25, with further increases expected from March 2026.
The Economic Times reported that Apple now ships all the base iPhone models and variants directly from India at launch. Previously, there was a lag of a few months before India-made Pro models reached international markets.
Traditionally, the export demand peaks during post-Diwali, driven by demand in Western markets around Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Christmas, and New Year. However, a steep rise has been observed thanks to September demand, which is almost 155% higher than the same month last year ($490 million export in September 2024).
Despite rising domestic sales of the newly launched iPhone 17 series, Indian factories supplied global markets efficiently.
The rapid growth of Apple's exports has been supported by two new facilities launched in India in April 2025: Tata Electronics' Hosur plant and Foxconn's Bengaluru unit, taking the tally of iPhone factories to five.
The production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme has further helped Apple’s Indian vendors to enhance local production.
According to the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) data, “smartphone exports from India to the US reached $8.43 billion between April and August 2025, compared to $2.88 billion during the same period last year, highlighting India's expanding role as a global manufacturing hub.”
The United States was the biggest destination for iPhones manufactured in India, accounting for 78% of total exports. Other markets such as the Netherlands, the UAE, the UK, and Japan saw a decline in their share of Indian iPhone shipments.
“Apple harvests record iPhone output from its India orchard,” the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) posted on social media platform X to celebrate the milestone, highlighting the country's growing role in global tech manufacturing.
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Despite the 'made in India' tag, foreign iPhones are still cheaper than the ones manufactured in India. For instance, iPhone Air retails for about $999 (Rs. 88,018) in the overseas market. After adding around 5% GST, the effective international price comes around Rs. 92,000.
However, in India, the same model costs Rs. 1,19,900, which is about 29% higher than the overseas value, driven by import duties and local taxes. The nation is set to play a vital role in Apple’s global supply chain and possibly surpass its counterparts in the future. According to the industry experts, this increase is a strategy by Apple to reduce its dependence on China.
Currently, US tariffs on imports from India exclude smartphones, computers, and electronics, and the US remains Apple's largest export market. iPhone exports will depend on international trade negotiations and potential US semiconductor tariffs under the Section 232 investigation in the coming months.
