[News] Apple Exports Over $50B in iPhones From India by Dec 2025, Just Four Years After PLI Entry

India is increasingly becoming a core manufacturing base in Apple’s global supply chain. According to Domain-b, citing The Economic Times, Apple surpassed a major milestone by exporting more than $50 billion worth of iPhones from India by December 2025—just four years after joining the smartphone Production Linked Incentive (PLI) programme in FY22.

The milestone was confirmed by Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who highlighted a sixfold increase in electronics production over the past 11 years under the “Make in India” program, Domain-b adds. The report also notes that iPhone shipments from India reached nearly $16 billion in the first nine months of FY26.

In addition, Times of India reports that India has begun exporting certain electronic components to China and Vietnam for the manufacture of Apple devices, including Macs, AirPods, Apple Watch, Apple Pencil, and iPhones, underscoring a notable shift in manufacturing roles as U.S.–China tensions continue to rise.

Apple’s Rapid Scale-Up and Export-Led Growth in India

By comparison, Samsung shipped roughly $17 billion worth of devices over its five-year PLI participation period from FY21 to FY25, the Domain-b report notes. This contrast highlights Apple’s faster scale-up in India and its emphasis on export-led, premium production rather than serving only the domestic market.

Notably, driven largely by iPhones, which accounted for about 75% of total smartphone exports, mobile phones emerged as India’s single largest export category in FY25, the report adds.

Apple Accelerates Its Manufacturing Shift to India

Industry estimates cited by Gadget Hacks suggest India’s share of global iPhone production could reach around 25% by 2025, with further growth projected at roughly 26–30% by 2027. The report also notes that Apple plans to manufacture most iPhones sold in the U.S. at Indian facilities by the end of 2026.

Apple sells more than 60 million iPhones annually in the U.S., with around 80% currently produced in China, according to Gadget Hacks. The report notes that while manufacturing costs in India are estimated to be 5–8% higher than in China, and could reach as much as 10%, Apple is willing to absorb the added expense to diversify its supply chain and reduce geopolitical risk.

Apple’s manufacturing footprint in India now spans five major assembly plants—three operated by Tata Group entities and two by Foxconn, according to Domain-b. Supported by a surrounding ecosystem of roughly 45 component and supplier companies, this network highlights India’s transition from a final-assembly base to a full-fledged electronics manufacturing hub.

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