Srinagar, July 26: India has emerged as a major player in the global smartphone supply chain, now accounting for nearly one-third of all smartphones imported into the US, largely fueled by Apple’s expanding iPhone production in the country.
As per reports despite concerns over a potential 25% tariff on Indian-made iPhones proposed by former US President Donald Trump, India’s share of US smartphone imports surged from 11% in 2024 to 36% by May 2025.
According to an Indian express report US smartphone imports from India jumped by over three times year-on-year to 21.3 million units between January and May this year, according to data from the US International Trade Commis-sion (USITC). In value terms (CIF), imports of Indian-made smartphones increased 182 per cent y-o-y to $9.35 billion, already higher than around $7 billion in the whole of 2024.
Apple’s Big Bet on India
Apple’s deepening investment in Indian manufacturing is transforming trade flows. Its major supplier Foxconn announced a $1.49 billion expansion in Tamil Nadu, while India now produces about 20% of the world’s iPhones.
In May, Apple CEO Tim Cook had said the company expects most iPhones sold in the US in the April-June quarter to have India as their country of origin.
Meanwhile, according to reports China exported 29.4 million smartphones to the US between January and May — a 27 per cent y-o-y drop — valued at around $10 billion. China (49 per cent) and India (36 per cent) were followed by Vietnam with 8.3 million units exported, accounting for a share of 14 per cent.
A Changing Smartphone Supply Chain
China, once the dominant player, has seen its share of US smartphone imports drop from 82% in 2024 to under 50%. Vietnam now holds around 14%, but India’s rapid rise highlights a strategic diversification in the global tech manufacturing landscape.
The shift underscores how geopolitical shifts, tariffs, and corporate strategy are reshaping where the world’s smartphones are made—and how they reach American consumers.
India’s growing share — now 1 in 3, driven largely by Apple iPhones — comes amid ongoing trade talks with the US. While smartphones are India’s top export to the US by value, President Donald Trump has threatened a 25 per cent tariff on Indian-made iPhones.
