[ad_1]
Apple produced $22 billion worth of iPhones in India in the 12 months through March 2025 — a staggering 60% jump from the prior year, according to a Bloomberg report. That means 1 in every 5 iPhones globally is now made in India, a sharp climb from near-zero just a few years ago.
The iPhones are built across factories in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, mostly by Foxconn, Apple’s biggest manufacturing partner globally. Tata Electronics and Pegatron also contribute to this growing output.
Apple exported $17.4 billion worth of iPhones from India during the same period, according to IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, underscoring New Delhi’s emergence as a key export hub for Apple’s global supply chain.
Why it matters
- This surge is a strategic retreat from China, born out of pandemic disruptions, supply chain vulnerabilities, and escalating tensions with the US. Apple’s manufacturing diversification, once incremental, is now in overdrive — driven in large part by President Donald Trump’s tariff offensive on Chinese electronics, which currently sits at 145%.
- Apple leaned into India as Covid lockdowns crippled China-based factories, including its largest iPhone plant.
- After Trump announced “reciprocal tariffs” in February, Apple reportedly accelerated US-bound shipments from India.
- A last-minute exemption on smartphones offered temporary relief, but the broader uncertainty remains.
- For Apple, India offers more than escape from China. It provides access to a growing domestic market, one in which Apple’s smartphone sales hit $8 billion in fiscal 2024, per Bloomberg, despite holding only 8% of market share. The iPhone, aspirational and elite, still holds sway in India’s rising middle class.
- Apple hasn’t publicly addressed its India pivot, but its actions speak volumes: The company now assembles its entire iPhone range, including premium titanium Pro models, in India.
The big picture
As per a WSJ report, Apple’s move fits squarely within CEO Tim Cook’s “long arc of time” mantra — a strategic philosophy that prizes long-term resilience over short-term gains.
When Apple’s market cap plunged nearly $800 billion following tariff announcements, Cook stayed quiet in public, but rushed Indian-made iPhones to US shores, according to the WSJ. The reprieve from tariffs came late on a Friday, after intense pressure from Apple and a jittery stock market.
“In the long arc of time, people change their mind on companies, but we’ve always suited up and fought,” Cook said in 2013.
In 2023, he told analysts, “If you look at it over a long arc of time, I think there’s a good opportunity across the board.”
Over the years, Cook has time and again leaned into the “long arc of time” mantra when facing in-the-moment challenges. In that, he’s a contrast to typical tech-industry leaders preaching short-term “ship and fix” strategies. Cook’s language evokes the famed quote from his personal hero, civil-rights leader Martin Luther King Jr, who said: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
An article in Wall Street Journal
His patience is paying off. Apple’s $22 billion India output now rivals production volumes from its earlier-phase China factories. The government is helping too — Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration has launched $2.7 billion in electronics manufacturing incentives, including subsidies for smartphone and semiconductor firms.
India, the world’s most populous nation, has become both a production base and an emerging consumer market. Though Apple’s market share in India is just 8%, its sales — mostly from iPhones -reached $8 billion in fiscal 2024.
Zoom in: Foxconn’s bold new bet on UP
- In parallel, Apple’s top supplier Foxconn is planning a major new manufacturing facility in north India, marking its first solo project in the region. As reported by the Economic Times, Foxconn is in talks with the Uttar Pradesh government to acquire 300 acres along the Yamuna Expressway near Greater Noida.
- “This facility has the potential to be slightly bigger than its upcoming facility in Bengaluru, which is set to become the company’s second largest globally,” a source told ET.
- The land is located near a proposed semiconductor OSAT facility that Foxconn and HCL are jointly developing — placing Foxconn’s new hub in close proximity to India’s semiconductor ambitions and new airport at Jewar.
- While discussions are still ongoing and the exact product focus is unconfirmed, the move signals Foxconn’s aggressive India expansion strategy, which already spans Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Karnataka.
- “Foxconn’s expanded investment in India aligns with global supply chain realignments aimed at fostering resilience and promoting diversification,” said Prabhu Ram of CyberMedia Research to ET.
What they’re saying
- “The uncertainty over tariffs and geopolitical climate gives Foxconn a ‘capacity safety net’ for the potential future EMS opportunities that will eventually fall into India’s lap,” said Neil Shah, vice-president at Counterpoint Research.
- “It’s good to diversify geographically and, at the same time, being closer to some prospective customers will help tap them — from smart devices to auto,” Shah added.
- “Definitely, we want to move up the value chain as much as we can in India,” said Foxconn Chairman Young Liu, who visited India last year and outlined plans beyond smartphones, including electric vehicles, digital health, energy tech, and ICT.
- Foxconn is reportedly aiming to produce 25–30 million iPhones in India this year — more than double last year’s volume, according to the ET report.
Between the lines
Apple’s pivot has enabled:
- Price stability in the US market amid tariff tremors.
- Lower reliance on Chinese production amid rising political risk.
- Access to India’s skilled labor and favorable policy climate.
- Meanwhile, the US remains unlikely as a large-scale iPhone production site.
- “In the US, you could have a meeting of tooling engineers and I’m not sure we could fill the room. In China, you could fill multiple football fields,” Cook said in 2017, illustrating the limits of reshoring.
What’s next
- Apple’s diversification is far from over — but India now looks set to lead its next chapter.
- India is no longer a backup plan — it’s a strategic manufacturing cornerstone. The Noida-Chennai clusters are developing into modern industrial ecosystems, complete with infrastructure, talent pools, and supplier networks.
- With Foxconn deepening its roots in Uttar Pradesh, and Tata scaling its manufacturing capacity, Apple’s India production could soon match or exceed early-stage output once seen in China.
- India’s growing chip ambitions and export incentives make it an ideal partner for Apple’s long-term roadmap.
- As Cook continues to walk his long arc, Apple’s bet on India looks not just smart but inevitable.
[ad_2]
Source link
About the author
Luxury skincare expansion: L’Oreal acquires majority stake in Medik8; announces 1 billion Euro deal
[ad_1] Cosmetics maker L’Oreal agreed to acquire a majority stake in British skincare brand Medik8, in a strategic move to strengthen its presence in the booming skincare market. The French beauty giant announced the deal on Monday, though financial terms were not disclosed.The transaction, which sees UK-based private equity firm Inflexion selling its majority holding, reportedly values Medik8 at around 1 billion Euro, according to a source familiar with the matter. Inflexion will retain a minority share, while L’Oreal has secured the option to eventually buy out all remaining shareholders, Reuters reported.“We are delighted to welcome Medik8 to the L’Oréal family. As a premium skincare range, with high levels of proven efficacy at an accessible price point, Medik8 perfectly complements our existing skincare portfolio,” Cyril Chaupuy, president of L’oreal Luxe said.“This acquisition further strengthens L’Oreal’s luxe portfolio, adding a premium […]
270 million pulled out of poverty! How Modi government achieved a remarkable dip in extreme poverty & what’s the road ahead? Explained
[ad_1] India’s GDP has more than doubled in the last decade, and experts believe that this has trickled down to the poorest. (AI image) Marking a big achievement over the last decade, extreme poverty in India has dropped substantially from 27.1% in 2011-12 to 5.3% in 2022-23, according to the latest World Bank data. The remarkable progress under the Narendra Modi government has come despite the World Bank raising its poverty threshold to $3 per person per day from $2.15 per person per day earlier.Incidentally, India’s huge reduction in extreme poverty comes at a time when globally there has been an increase in the number of people below the poverty line. According to a government fact sheet, India has emerged a statistical outlier in the positive direction.The latest data is being seen as a boost in the government’s economic growth […]
Ayodhya land prices: Circle rates revised first time in 8 years; soar up to 200%
[ad_1] For the first time in eight years, Ayodhya has seen a sharp revision in its circle rates, with property prices rising between 30% and 200% across various parts of the district, officials told PTI.The prices are particularly steep within a 10-kilometre radius of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, an area witnessing a real estate boom fuelled by religious tourism and rapid infrastructure growth. Here, circle rates have jumped over 150%, pushing land values in the prime zone to Rs 26,600–27,900 per square metre, compared to Rs 6,650–6,975 earlier.Shanti Bhushan Chaubey, sub-registrar of Sadar (Faizabad) tehsil, said the hike followed a proposal submitted last September. “After addressing objections, the new circle rates were approved by District Magistrate Tikaram Funde and have now been enforced,” he said.According to Chaubey, the sharpest hikes were recorded in areas with the most land activity. “Localities […]
China exports: Global shipments rose 4.8% in May; inflow to US falls nearly 35% amid trade talks
[ad_1] China’s export growth lost momentum in May, rising 4.8% year-on-year, a sharp slowdown from the 8.1% surge recorded in April, as per the customs data released on Monday.The deceleration came amid a sharp drop in shipments to the United States, down 35% year-on-year, as tensions between the two economic giants continued to cloud trade prospects.The figures were released just hours ahead of another round of US-China trade negotiations scheduled for later in the day, in London. These talks come after a phone call between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping last week. Zichun Huang of Capital Economics anticipated exports growth to revive in June, thanks to a 90-day suspension on most of the tariffs the two countries have imposed on each other.China’s imports also fell in May, down 3.4% year-on-year, leaving the country with a trade […]
Tata Motors future plans: Rs 33,000-35,000 crore investment to boost passenger vehicles; hoping to lead in EV segment
[ad_1] Automaking giant Tata Motors is planning massive investment plans for the future, earmarking Rs 33,000 crore to Rs 35,000 crore for FY 26-30 on product actions. The Mumbai-headquartered company is targeting 30 product actions, including the launch of seven new models, as it looks to sharpen its competitive edge in India’s fast-evolving passenger vehicle (PV) market.As part of its long-term strategy, the automaker aims to secure a 16% market share, including electric vehicles (EVs), by FY27, rising to 18–20% over the next few years. Tata Motors expects the domestic PV industry to hit annual sales of 60 lakh units by 2030 and is positioning itself to ride that wave with a refreshed and expansive portfolio.“Looking ahead, we will strengthen our portfolio by FY30...7 new nameplates and 23 product refreshes will holistically enhance the portfolio,” the company told analysts in […]
India’s two-wheeler industry: Growth to surpass Covid-19 levels soon; driven by RBI rate cuts and robust domestic demand
[ad_1] The two-wheeler industry in India is set to undergo a massive selling surge, surpassing pre-Covid-19 levels, driven by RBI’s rate cut, strong domestic demand and significant recovery in exports. According to a report by CareEdge Ratings, the sector is expected to register a healthy volume growth of 8–9% in FY26. This follows three years of strong performance, with volumes rising by 8% in FY23, 10% in FY24 and 11% in FY25.A key factor behind this growth is the Reserve Bank of India’s cumulative 100 basis points rate cut since February 2025, including a 50 bps reduction last week, which is anticipated to make vehicle loans more affordable and spur demand.“The cumulative 100 bps rate cut by the RBI since February 2025, with the recent 50 bps rate cut announced last week, is expected to enhance affordability and boost demand” […]
Related
Luxury skincare expansion: L’Oreal acquires majority stake in Medik8; announces 1 billion Euro deal
[ad_1] Cosmetics maker L’Oreal agreed to acquire a majority stake in British skincare brand Medik8, in a strategic move to strengthen its presence in the booming skincare market. The French beauty giant announced the deal on Monday, though financial terms were not disclosed.The transaction, which sees UK-based private equity firm Inflexion selling its majority holding, reportedly values Medik8 at around 1 billion Euro, according to a source familiar with the matter. Inflexion will retain a minority share, while L’Oreal has secured the option to eventually buy out all remaining shareholders, Reuters reported.“We are delighted to welcome Medik8 to the L’Oréal family. As a premium skincare range, with high levels of proven efficacy at an accessible price point, Medik8 perfectly complements our existing skincare portfolio,” Cyril Chaupuy, president of L’oreal Luxe said.“This acquisition further strengthens L’Oreal’s luxe portfolio, adding a premium […]
270 million pulled out of poverty! How Modi government achieved a remarkable dip in extreme poverty & what’s the road ahead? Explained
[ad_1] India’s GDP has more than doubled in the last decade, and experts believe that this has trickled down to the poorest. (AI image) Marking a big achievement over the last decade, extreme poverty in India has dropped substantially from 27.1% in 2011-12 to 5.3% in 2022-23, according to the latest World Bank data. The remarkable progress under the Narendra Modi government has come despite the World Bank raising its poverty threshold to $3 per person per day from $2.15 per person per day earlier.Incidentally, India’s huge reduction in extreme poverty comes at a time when globally there has been an increase in the number of people below the poverty line. According to a government fact sheet, India has emerged a statistical outlier in the positive direction.The latest data is being seen as a boost in the government’s economic growth […]
Ayodhya land prices: Circle rates revised first time in 8 years; soar up to 200%
[ad_1] For the first time in eight years, Ayodhya has seen a sharp revision in its circle rates, with property prices rising between 30% and 200% across various parts of the district, officials told PTI.The prices are particularly steep within a 10-kilometre radius of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, an area witnessing a real estate boom fuelled by religious tourism and rapid infrastructure growth. Here, circle rates have jumped over 150%, pushing land values in the prime zone to Rs 26,600–27,900 per square metre, compared to Rs 6,650–6,975 earlier.Shanti Bhushan Chaubey, sub-registrar of Sadar (Faizabad) tehsil, said the hike followed a proposal submitted last September. “After addressing objections, the new circle rates were approved by District Magistrate Tikaram Funde and have now been enforced,” he said.According to Chaubey, the sharpest hikes were recorded in areas with the most land activity. “Localities […]
China exports: Global shipments rose 4.8% in May; inflow to US falls nearly 35% amid trade talks
[ad_1] China’s export growth lost momentum in May, rising 4.8% year-on-year, a sharp slowdown from the 8.1% surge recorded in April, as per the customs data released on Monday.The deceleration came amid a sharp drop in shipments to the United States, down 35% year-on-year, as tensions between the two economic giants continued to cloud trade prospects.The figures were released just hours ahead of another round of US-China trade negotiations scheduled for later in the day, in London. These talks come after a phone call between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping last week. Zichun Huang of Capital Economics anticipated exports growth to revive in June, thanks to a 90-day suspension on most of the tariffs the two countries have imposed on each other.China’s imports also fell in May, down 3.4% year-on-year, leaving the country with a trade […]
Tata Motors future plans: Rs 33,000-35,000 crore investment to boost passenger vehicles; hoping to lead in EV segment
[ad_1] Automaking giant Tata Motors is planning massive investment plans for the future, earmarking Rs 33,000 crore to Rs 35,000 crore for FY 26-30 on product actions. The Mumbai-headquartered company is targeting 30 product actions, including the launch of seven new models, as it looks to sharpen its competitive edge in India’s fast-evolving passenger vehicle (PV) market.As part of its long-term strategy, the automaker aims to secure a 16% market share, including electric vehicles (EVs), by FY27, rising to 18–20% over the next few years. Tata Motors expects the domestic PV industry to hit annual sales of 60 lakh units by 2030 and is positioning itself to ride that wave with a refreshed and expansive portfolio.“Looking ahead, we will strengthen our portfolio by FY30...7 new nameplates and 23 product refreshes will holistically enhance the portfolio,” the company told analysts in […]
India’s two-wheeler industry: Growth to surpass Covid-19 levels soon; driven by RBI rate cuts and robust domestic demand
[ad_1] The two-wheeler industry in India is set to undergo a massive selling surge, surpassing pre-Covid-19 levels, driven by RBI’s rate cut, strong domestic demand and significant recovery in exports. According to a report by CareEdge Ratings, the sector is expected to register a healthy volume growth of 8–9% in FY26. This follows three years of strong performance, with volumes rising by 8% in FY23, 10% in FY24 and 11% in FY25.A key factor behind this growth is the Reserve Bank of India’s cumulative 100 basis points rate cut since February 2025, including a 50 bps reduction last week, which is anticipated to make vehicle loans more affordable and spur demand.“The cumulative 100 bps rate cut by the RBI since February 2025, with the recent 50 bps rate cut announced last week, is expected to enhance affordability and boost demand” […]
Be the first to leave a comment