Apple’s iPhone manufacturing push in India has crossed a major milestone. The company has now exported more than $50 billion worth of iPhones from the country, underscoring how quickly India has become central to Apple’s global supply chain.
This shift did not happen overnight. Local tax incentives, combined with Apple’s efforts to reduce exposure to US tariffs, pushed production sharply higher. By April 2025, India was already manufacturing one in five iPhones sold worldwide. When US tariffs took effect soon after, Apple redirected 97 percent of Indian-made iPhones to the United States.
According to The Economic Times, Apple’s exports surged after the company joined India’s Production-Linked Incentive program in 2021. An official familiar with the data said that “in the first nine months of FY26 alone, Apple has already exported nearly $16 billion, taking the cumulative iPhone exports past $50 billion within the PLI period.”
PLI Program Changed Apple’s Strategy
The PLI scheme runs for five financial years, calculated from April 1 to March 31. Apple began receiving benefits in FY22, after setting up manufacturing through local partners. India is now in FY26, which ends on March 31, 2026, meaning final export figures under the scheme are still pending.
Even so, the pace is clear. Apple’s exports continue to climb with three months left in the program. The government extended the scheme by one year after Apple and other manufacturers missed early targets due to the pandemic and factory setup delays.
Samsung also benefited, but at a smaller scale. Between FY21 and FY25, Samsung exported nearly $17 billion worth of smartphones from India. Unlike Apple, Samsung completed its targets earlier due to its existing manufacturing base.
India Matters More Than Ever
Apple’s India operations now rely on five iPhone factories. Three are run by Tata, while Foxconn operates two. Together, they anchor a supply chain of around 45 companies, many of them MSMEs, supplying components for both domestic and global markets.
This growth has reshaped India’s export profile. iPhones now account for 75 percent of smartphone exports, making smartphones India’s top export category in FY25. A decade ago, the category ranked 167th.
Government support is expected to continue even after the smartphone PLI ends next March. Officials have acknowledged that Indian manufacturers still face cost disadvantages compared to China and Vietnam and said support will remain in some form.
As one official put it, “the real thrust has come after its inauguration, primarily with Apple deciding to bring its suppliers to India.” That decision now defines Apple’s manufacturing future far beyond China.
