India has overtaken China as the leading exporter of iPhones to the United States, shipping nearly three million units in April, according to a report by market research firm Omdia. In stark contrast, shipments from China plunged 76% to just 900,000 units, signaling a major shift in Apple’s global supply chain strategy.
This development comes amid escalating trade pressures after US President Donald Trump threatened a 25% tariff on imported iPhones not made in America. Trump also urged Apple CEO Tim Cook to cease manufacturing in India and instead increase domestic production. However, experts argue this demand is impractical given the scale and complexity of Apple’s current supply chain.
Le Xuan Chiew, research manager at Omdia, noted that the surge in Indian shipments likely reflects Apple’s strategic move to stockpile devices ahead of potential tariff hikes.
Apple currently sells over 220 million iPhones annually, with the US being a critical market. A domestically made iPhone could cost as much as $3,500 due to the absence of a local supply chain, making India an attractive alternative.
Apple assembles iPhones in Tamil Nadu through Foxconn, while Tata Electronics operates Pegatron’s facilities. Both firms are ramping up production with new plants underway.
Although India is emerging as a crucial player in Apple’s supply network, experts caution that scaling up to meet US demand will take time. Cook recently confirmed that the majority of iPhones sold in the US in the current quarter will be sourced from India.
Meanwhile, Chinese-made iPhones face a 30% US tariff, compared to just 10% on Indian units. Analysts estimate it would take Apple three years and $30 billion to shift even 10% of production to the US—an undertaking many view as economically unviable.
OpinionExpress.In
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