India Exported 3.3 Million iPhones to the US in April 2025, Surpassing China and Achieving a Significant Milestone in Apple's Supply Chain.
iPhone Exporter: In April 2025, India achieved a milestone that captured global attention in the technology and manufacturing sectors. For the first time, India surpassed China in iPhone exports for the giant brand, Apple. This shift is not merely a trade statistic; it represents a significant leap towards India becoming a global manufacturing hub.
Record-Level iPhone Exports to the US
According to Canalys, a market research firm now part of Omdia, India exported 3.3 million iPhones to the United States in April 2025. This figure represents a 76% increase compared to the previous year. Conversely, iPhone exports from China to the US plummeted to just 900,000 units.
This marks the first time India has overtaken China in monthly iPhone exports to the US. This trend is likely to strengthen in the coming months.
India Benefits from Tariff Tensions
A key factor behind this shift is the escalating tariff tension between the US and China. During the tenure of former US President Donald Trump, substantial tariffs were imposed on numerous electronic products from China, including iPhones.
While iPhones manufactured in China face a 30% tariff, those assembled in India are subject to only a 10% base duty. This prompted Apple to rapidly shift its manufacturing strategy towards India.
On April 11, 2025, the Trump administration granted temporary tariff relief to some iPhone models entering the US; however, Apple had already begun increasing shipments from India in March. As a result, exports from India surged to 4.4 million units within a single month.
China Still Leads, but India is Gaining Momentum
However, considering data from January to April 2025, China still leads in overall shipments. During this period, China exported 13.2 million iPhones to the US, while India's figure stood at 11.5 million units.
Nevertheless, experts believe India's growth trend is consistently upward, and this gap may soon close.
Le Xuan Chiew, Research Manager at Omdia, told CNBC that India's export growth is accelerating monthly and could permanently surpass China in the future.
Apple's Post-COVID-19 Strategy Shift
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Apple emphasized supply chain diversification. This involved reducing reliance on China and increasing manufacturing in countries like India.
Foxconn is Apple's primary assembly partner in India, significantly expanding its production capacity. Additionally, Tata Electronics has commenced assembling iPhone 16 and 16e models at its Hosur plant.
Reports indicate that Apple assembled $22 billion worth of iPhones in India during fiscal year 2025 – a record and a significant achievement for India.
The US Remains Apple's Largest Market
Despite Apple shifting its manufacturing to India, the US remains its largest market. Demand for iPhones in the US consistently hovers around 20 million units per quarter.
While India cannot currently meet this demand entirely, the rapid expansion of its manufacturing capacity suggests that India could eventually handle a significant portion of the US market.
Trump's Warning and Political Pressure
Despite India's progress, political pressure on Apple is mounting. While China is displeased with Apple's supply chain shift, Trump has issued warnings to the company.
Donald Trump threatened to impose a 25% tariff on Apple if it failed to shift iPhone production to the US. He explicitly stated that Apple should promote American manufacturing.
This creates pressure on Apple's policy-making team from both China and the US.
