Tim Cook in a previous visit to India — image credit: Apple
Even before Trump’s tariffs were originally announced, Apple was expanding iPhone production in India, in an increasingly rapid move away from over-reliance on China.
Trump’s use of tariffs to make iPhones be built in the US is still expected to see Apple instead moving more manufacturing to India. But according to the country’s The Straits Times , in the year up to March 2025, India was already further a significant producer of the iPhone.
Reportedly, $22 billion worth of iPhones were produced in India from the end of March 2024 to the end of March 2025. That’s a 60% increase over the previous year, and according to unspecified sources means that India is now manufacturing 20% of all iPhones.
The report is a little unclear on details. For instance, it ascribes the $22 billion figure to India’s technology minster, but doesn’t say that is Ashwini Vaishnaw himself, or a spokesperson for the ministry.
Then if Apple has exported $22 billion worth of iPhones, it isn’t stated how many iPhones that represents, nor how many more were produced for sale within India itself. Previous sources have said India now produces 30 million to 40 million iPhones annually, with around 12 million going to buyers in India.
It’s not possible to estimate the number of iPhones from the $22 billion figure, in part because there is no information about the mix of models produced. But also, that figure is the factory gate value, the price of the iPhone before any shipping, taxes — or tariffs — are applied.
Nonetheless, if the other unnamed sources claiming India now accounts for 20% of Apple’s worldwide iPhone production, it fits with previous reports. Apple has now long been said to ultimately be aiming to make 25% of all iPhones in India.
Most recently, Apple’s main iPhone supplier Foxconn was reported to be doubling its production facilities in India by the end of 2025.
