iPhones become India's top export item
Big news: iPhones have taken the crown as India's number one export in 2025, bringing in $23 billion—mostly to the US.
This means smartphones have officially overtaken diesel fuel on the export charts.
Apple alone made up 76% of all smartphone exports, which totaled $30.13 billion.
Apple's local game plan
Apple's rise is thanks to smart moves like using India's production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme and partnering with local giants like Tata.
Earlier US tariffs on Chinese electronics helped India get ahead, but with those tariffs now gone, India's manufacturing scene might face some fresh challenges.
Apple currently has five iPhone factories here operated by Tata and Foxconn and works with about 45 local suppliers—a setup that keeps it strong even as global trade rules keep shifting.