Key Takeaways
- Apple hits record $10 billion iPhone exports from India in H1 FY25, up 75% year-on-year
- Full iPhone 17 series production in India from launch boosts export potential
- Five manufacturing plants now operational with Tata and Foxconn expansion
Apple has achieved a landmark $10 billion in iPhone exports from India during the first half of fiscal year 2025, representing a massive 75% growth compared to the same period last year. This surge underscores India’s rapidly expanding role in Apple’s global supply chain.
Record Production and Export Figures
According to Economic Times citing official data, Apple’s vendors produced $22 billion worth of iPhones in FY25, with $17.5 billion (80%) of these made-in-India devices exported globally. The production value has shown extraordinary growth, jumping from just $2 billion in FY22 to $22 billion in FY25 under the smartphone PLI scheme.
September 2025 witnessed particularly strong performance with $1.25 billion in iPhone exports despite being a typically slow month ahead of new launches. This represents a 155% increase over September 2024, even with robust domestic demand for the newly launched iPhone 17 series.
Manufacturing Expansion Drives Growth
The export surge follows Apple’s significant manufacturing expansion in India. Two new factories – Tata Electronics’ Hosur plant and Foxconn’s Bengaluru unit – commenced operations in April 2025, bringing the total number of iPhone manufacturing facilities in India to five.
iPhone 17 Series: A Game Changer
For the first time, all iPhone models including the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air are being produced in India for global markets right from their launch. This eliminates the previous production lag for Pro models and positions India for even greater export growth.
Apple’s OEM plants in India are reportedly assembling all iPhone 17 models for the US market, suggesting the current $10 billion export figure could see substantial additional growth through the iPhone 17 series.
Future Outlook and Challenges
Industry experts predict Apple could surpass last year’s production and export figures by March 2026, though potential challenges remain. “At the current run rate, Apple is expected to cross the production and export figures of last year. However, it will also depend upon international trade negotiations and the much-anticipated semiconductor tariffs under the 232 investigations by the US department of commerce,” an industry expert stated.
The United States remains the largest export market for Indian smartphones, with $8.43 billion in exports between April and August 2025 – nearly triple the $2.88 billion recorded during the same period last year, according to ICEA data. Apple continues to lead these exports, followed by Samsung and Motorola, marking a significant transformation in India’s electronics manufacturing landscape.
