Apple set a new 'iPhone manufacturing record' in India in the first six months of 2025: Trump Tariffs, fears and ...

Apple has reportedly set a new milestone in India in the first six months of 2025. According to a report in Economic Times, the iPhone-maker has reportedly achieved the fastest ramp-up in iPhone production and exports from India in the first half of 2025 ever since it started smartphone assembly in the country in 2017. The move is said to be an attempt on Apple's part to diversify global production amid threat of higher US tariffs on Chinese imports.

Quoting market researcher Canalys, the report said that iPhone production in India surged 53% on-year during the January to June period, reaching 23.9 million units. As per research firm Cybermedia Research (CMR), iPhone export volumes touched 22.88 million units in H1 2025, from 15.05 million a year earlier, an increase of 52%. In value terms, Apple exported $22.56 billion worth of iPhones from India in the first half of 2025, compared to $14.71 billion a year earlier as per CMR. "This shift reflects improving yield rates, line maturity, and Apple's growing confidence in India as a core manufacturing base," said Sanyam Chaurasia, analyst, Canalys.

Donald Trump’s 25% tariff threat to Apple

Apple also faces a significant challenge in India as President Trump has warned the company about imposing 25% tariff on imported iPhones if they are not manufactured within US borders. "I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else," Trump wrote on Truth Social in May. "If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the US."

When Apple 'flew' 5 flights full of iPhones from India in flat 3 days

Apple transported five planes full of iPhones and other products from India to the US in just three days during the final week of March. The urgent shipments were made to avoid a new 10% reciprocal tariff imposed by US President Donald Trump’s administration that took effect on April 5. Apple's US warehouses are reportedly stocked for several months ahead with 'made-in-India' iPhones. Analyst said that stockpiling was aimed to allow Apple to maintain current pricing temporarily. “The reserves that arrived at lower duty will temporarily insulate the company from the higher prices that it will need to pay for new shipments under the revised tax rates,” a source explained to TOI.

In May, the US government later declared a 90-day pause on imposing reciprocal tariffs for most of its trading partners till July 9, which has since been extended to August 1. For India, the US has proposed a 26% tariff.

Biggest iPhone manufacturers in India

Foxconn (Hon Hai) and Tata Electronics are the leading manufacturers of iPhones in India. Last year, Tata Electronics took over operations of Wistron and Pegatron plants in the country.

Apple iPhone 17 series manufacturing has reportedly started in India

Apple is now reportedly planning to undertake simultaneous day-one manufacturing of the upcoming iPhone 17 in China and India. Apple iPhone 17 series is likely set for launch in September. Components for the iPhone 17 are reported to have already started arriving at the Foxconn plant in Tamil Nadu. "While not officially confirmed, the volume and type of these imports make it highly likely that trial production or early-stage assembly has commenced, months ahead of Apple's typical September launch window. This would mark a new benchmark with the earliest ever flagship ramp-up from India," Chaurasia said.