Nearly all iPhones exported by Foxconn from India between March and May 2025 were shipped to the United States, marking a major shift in Apple’s global supply chain strategy. According to customs data reviewed by Reuters, this realignment highlights Apple’s efforts to sidestep steep U.S. tariffs on Chinese-made goods.
Previously, iPhones assembled in India were distributed to a broader range of countries including the Netherlands, Czech Republic, and the UK. But in a notable shift, 97% of Foxconn’s $3.2 billion (₹27,547 crore) worth of iPhone exports from India during the three-month period went exclusively to the U.S. This is a sharp increase from the 2024 average of just over 50%.
In May alone, nearly $1 billion (₹8,608 crore) worth of iPhones were exported to the U.S., second only to March’s record $1.3 billion (₹11,191 crore).
Neither Apple nor Foxconn commented on the development when approached by Reuters.
The surge in exports comes amid heightened trade tensions between Washington and Beijing. Former U.S. President Donald Trump recently proposed a 55% tariff on Chinese goods under a new framework, pending government approvals. India, by comparison, currently faces a standard 10% U.S. import tariff, though a proposed 26% “reciprocal” tariff has been temporarily put on hold.
Trump has also taken aim at Apple’s shift to India, stating in May that he told CEO Tim Cook: “We are not interested in you building in India… We want you to build here.”
In just the first five months of 2025, Foxconn has already exported $4.4 billion (₹37,878 crore) worth of iPhones to the U.S.—surpassing the full-year total of $3.7 billion (₹31,844 crore) in 2024.
To expedite deliveries and reduce tariff exposure, Apple has ramped up its India-based production. In March, the company even chartered planes to fly iPhone 13, 14, 16, and 16e models worth $2 billion (₹17,213 crore) directly to the U.S. Apple has also been pushing for faster customs clearance at Chennai Airport, aiming to cut wait times from 30 hours to just six.
“We expect made-in-India iPhones to account for 25% to 30% of global shipments in 2025, up from 18% in 2024,” said Prachir Singh, senior analyst at Counterpoint Research.
Tata Electronics, a newer Apple supplier in India, has also ramped up its U.S.-focused production. In March and April, 86% of its iPhone shipments were bound for the U.S., compared to just 52% for all of 2024. The company started exporting in July 2024 but declined to comment on recent developments.
Despite Apple’s growing reliance on Indian manufacturing, high import duties on components continue to hinder cost competitiveness. For now, most iPhones sold in the U.S.—where annual sales exceed 60 million units—are still made in China, which accounts for around 80% of global production.
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