Apple Inc.’s iPhone exports from India surged by a third in the six months leading up to September, highlighting the company’s efforts to expand manufacturing in the country and reduce reliance on China.
The U.S. tech giant exported nearly $6 billion worth of India-made iPhones, representing a one-third increase in value from the previous year, according to sources who requested anonymity due to the private nature of the information. This growth puts annual exports on track to exceed approximately $10 billion for fiscal 2024.
Apple is rapidly growing its manufacturing presence in India, benefiting from local subsidies, a skilled labor force, and advancements in the country’s technological capabilities. India plays a key role in Apple’s strategy to reduce its dependence on China, where tensions with the U.S. have escalated, increasing risks for the company.
Three of Apple’s suppliers—Taiwanese firms Foxconn Technology Group and Pegatron Corp., along with India’s Tata Electronics—assemble iPhones in southern India. Foxconn’s unit near Chennai leads iPhone production in the country, accounting for half of India’s iPhone exports.
Tata Group’s electronics manufacturing division exported about $1.7 billion worth of iPhones from its Karnataka facility between April and September. Tata became the first Indian company to assemble Apple’s bestselling product after acquiring the factory from Wistron Corp. last year.
