Apple iPhones from India Hit $50 Billion Export Mark

Apple’s iPhone exports from India have reached a remarkable milestone. Up to December 2025, Apple and its Indian manufacturing partners have shipped iPhones worth $50 billion. This growth reflects the strength of Apple’s supply chain in India and the impact of the country’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) programme, which encourages local manufacturing and global exports.

In just the first nine months of FY26 (April–December 2025), India alone exported around $16 billion worth of iPhones. These shipments have helped India climb the ranks in global smartphone exports, turning mobile phones into one of the country’s most important export items. Back in 2015, smartphones were ranked 167th in India’s export list. Today, thanks largely to Apple, they are the leading export category.

Apple’s success in India is closely tied to the PLI scheme for smartphones, launched to boost domestic production and encourage exports. Apple joined the programme in FY22, and the combination of government incentives and support for electronics manufacturing has helped scale up production rapidly. The PLI scheme is scheduled to end in March 2026, but the government is exploring new incentives to maintain momentum and keep global manufacturers invested in India.

The company’s manufacturing footprint in India is significant. Apple currently operates five iPhone assembly units in the country—three run by Tata Group entities and two by Foxconn, Apple’s major global assembler. These factories are supported by a supply chain of around 45 companies, including many MSMEs, producing components and parts for both domestic use and export.

Apple’s exports from India are also notable when compared with other global smartphone makers. Samsung, for example, shipped about $17 billion worth of mobile devices from India under a similar PLI-linked scheme from FY21 to FY25. This shows that Apple has become the dominant player in India’s smartphone export ecosystem.

The impact of Apple’s exports goes beyond numbers. High-value electronics now play a key role in India’s trade profile, helping the country diversify its export basket and increase revenue from advanced manufacturing. Apple’s decision to manufacture iPhones in India, alongside China, has positioned the country as a global hub for finished smartphones and components, strengthening India’s presence in the worldwide electronics market.

Looking ahead, Apple’s iPhone exports are expected to rise further before the current PLI programme ends in March 2026. The government is also considering next-generation incentive schemes to continue supporting electronics manufacturing and ensure that global tech companies see India as a stable, long-term manufacturing destination.

Apple’s success story in India highlights how strategic government policies, strong manufacturing ecosystems, and global demand can combine to make the country a key player in high-value exports. With the PLI programme and potential new incentives, India’s electronics manufacturing sector is poised for even greater growth in the coming years.