Apple now assembles around 25% of its iPhones in India
What's the story
Apple ramped up its iPhone production in India by a whopping 53% last year. The company now assembles nearly a quarter of all its iPhones in the country. This strategic move comes as part of Apple's efforts to circumvent tariffs imposed on China. In 2025, Apple is estimated to have assembled around 55 million iPhones in India, up from 36 million the previous year.
Strategic shift
US-China trade war impacts Apple's supply chain
The US tariffs imposed during the ongoing trade war between the two economic superpowers have affected shipments from China, where Apple still manufactures most of its iPhones. These levies have prompted Apple and its suppliers to relocate a portion of devices intended for American market to other manufacturing hubs. India has emerged as a key player in this strategy, with firms like Foxconn, Tata Electronics, and Pegatron manufacturing models like iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 for local sales and export.
Future plans
Strengthening local supplier partnerships
The increased production in India is a testament to Apple's long-term supply chain strategy of establishing a second major iPhone manufacturing base to meet global demand. The company is strengthening and expanding its local supplier partnerships for components such as lithium-ion cells, watch and phone enclosures, and accessories like AirPods. Beyond manufacturing, Apple is also eyeing market share gains in a region where sales have already crossed $9 billion.
Market growth
Expanding retail presence in India
Apple is also expanding its retail presence in India. The Cupertino tech giant now has six stores in the country and is preparing to launch Apple Pay later this year.