In a strategic response to newly imposed US tariffs, Apple Inc. rapidly shipped five planeloads of iPhones and other products from India to the United States over a three-day period in the final week of March, according to senior Indian officials cited by The Times of India. The accelerated shipments aimed to mitigate the financial impact of a 10% reciprocal tariff enacted by the Trump administration, which took effect on April 5.
The move was part of a broader preemptive strategy by Apple to safeguard its inventory and maintain pricing stability. Despite March traditionally being a lean period for product movement, Apple increased outbound logistics from its manufacturing hubs in India and China to stay ahead of the tariff deadline. “Factories in India and China and other key locations had been shipping products to the US in anticipation of the higher tariffs coming into play,” a source familiar with the matter told TOI.
By stockpiling inventory in advance, Apple has managed to temporarily insulate itself from the immediate financial burden of the new duties. As a result, the company has maintained stable retail prices in the US, even as American consumers rush to purchase iPhones amid growing concerns over potential price hikes. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that Apple Store employees have been overwhelmed by a surge in demand, describing the trend as “panic-buying.”
Despite rising cost pressures, Apple currently has no immediate plans to raise prices either domestically or in international markets. The company is reportedly exploring internal cost absorption measures while continuing to assess the long-term implications of the evolving tariff landscape on its global supply chain.
India’s growing importance in Apple’s manufacturing ecosystem is expected to deepen as trade tensions influence supply chain decisions. While Indian goods face a 26% reciprocal tariff under the new US structure, this remains significantly lower than the up to 54% levied on Chinese exports. Apple already accounts for the majority of India’s nearly $9 billion in smartphone exports to the US and may further scale up production in the country.
As Apple navigates these complex geopolitical and economic dynamics, its next moves will be closely watched for their potential to reshape global manufacturing strategies across the tech sector.
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