Apple is now sending nearly all India-made iPhones to the United States, a sharp shift aimed at avoiding high U.S. tariffs on China-made products. According to customs data cited by Reuters, 97% of iPhones exported by Foxconn from India between March and May 2025 were sent to the U.S. — a big jump from the average of 50.3% in 2024.
Earlier, India-made iPhones were exported to countries like the Netherlands, the UK, and the Czech Republic, but the U.S. has now become the dominant destination.
Between March and May, Foxconn exported $3.2 billion worth of iPhones from India, with $1.3 billion in March and $1 billion in May — May’s figure being the second-highest on record.
This comes amid rising U.S.-China tensions and tariff changes:
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Donald Trump recently announced a 55% tariff on China-made goods, awaiting formal approval.
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In contrast, India faces only a 10% base tariff, making it a more attractive source for Apple.
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Trump has also criticized Apple’s growing India operations, urging CEO Tim Cook to “build in the U.S., not in India.”
Despite the criticism, Apple is expanding fast in India:
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From January to May 2025, $4.4 billion worth of iPhones were exported from India to the U.S., already surpassing 2024’s total of $3.7 billion.
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Apple is also using chartered planes to speed up shipments — flying iPhone 13, 14, 16, and 16e models worth $2 billion in March.
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The company has requested Indian authorities to cut customs clearance time at Chennai airport from 30 hours to just 6 hours.
Analyst Prachir Singh of Counterpoint Research said India-made iPhones could make up 25% to 30% of global iPhone shipments in 2025, up from 18% in 2024.
Tata Electronics, a newer Apple supplier in India, is also mainly exporting to the U.S. — with 86% of its iPhone exports sent there in March and April 2025, compared to just 52% in July 2024.
Overall, this marks a major shift in Apple’s global supply strategy, with India becoming a critical hub to serve the U.S. market and reduce dependence on China.
