India’s iPhone Exports Cross $50 Billion, Marking a Turning Point in Global Manufacturing

India has crossed a landmark moment in its manufacturing journey as Apple’s iPhone exports from the country have surpassed $50 billion. This achievement reflects a fundamental shift in global supply chains and highlights India’s growing stature as a reliable, large-scale electronics manufacturing hub. What was once seen largely as an assembly destination has now emerged as a critical node in Apple’s worldwide production strategy.

This surge is not accidental. It is the result of sustained policy support, industrial capacity building, and a global environment that increasingly favours diversification away from single-country manufacturing dependence.

Apple Inc’s manufacturing push in India has resulted in a dramatic surge in iPhone exports, with shipments crossing the $50 billion mark under the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme period. | The Times of India

Apple’s Expanding Footprint in India

Apple’s manufacturing operations in India have grown rapidly over the past few years. After joining India’s Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, the company scaled up both production and exports at an unprecedented pace. By the end of 2025, India-made iPhones worth more than $50 billion had been shipped to global markets, with nearly $16 billion exported in just the first nine months of the 2025–26 financial year.

Major contract manufacturers such as Foxconn and Tata Electronics have expanded facilities across Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, producing newer iPhone models almost simultaneously with China. This reflects Apple’s confidence in India’s manufacturing ecosystem, workforce capability, and policy stability.

Make in India and the Role of Policy Support

The success of iPhone exports is closely tied to the Make in India initiative and the PLI scheme, which incentivised large-scale manufacturing while encouraging global firms to localise operations. Over the last decade, India’s electronics production has grown nearly six times, while electronics exports have increased almost eightfold.

Smartphones have now become one of India’s top export categories, a dramatic shift from a decade ago when electronics barely featured in export rankings. The Apple ecosystem alone has contributed significantly to job creation, with millions employed directly and indirectly across assembly plants, logistics networks, and component supply chains.

Global Supply Chain Realignment and India’s Advantage

India’s rise as a major iPhone exporter also reflects broader geopolitical and economic shifts. Global companies are increasingly seeking alternatives to concentrated manufacturing bases, particularly in the aftermath of supply disruptions, trade tensions, and geopolitical uncertainty.

India offers a combination of scale, cost competitiveness, democratic governance, and a rapidly improving infrastructure ecosystem. For Apple, India now serves not just as a backup manufacturing destination but as a strategic export base, particularly for shipments to the United States and other Western markets.

Beyond Assembly: Building a High-Tech Ecosystem

While iPhone assembly has led the way, the government’s vision extends further. India is now pushing to deepen value addition through component manufacturing and semiconductor production. Several semiconductor fabrication and packaging units are expected to begin commercial operations, which could significantly strengthen domestic electronics capabilities.

This shift is crucial for India to move up the value chain, reduce import dependence, and position itself not only as a manufacturing hub but also as a technology ecosystem capable of design, innovation, and advanced production.

The MGMM Outlook

India crossing the $50 billion mark in iPhone exports reflects a structural shift in global manufacturing rather than a short-term surge. Apple’s rapid scale-up in India, supported by the PLI framework and stable policy execution, signals confidence in the country’s ability to handle high-value, high-precision manufacturing at volume. What stands out is not just export numbers, but the speed at which India has moved from being a peripheral assembly base to a synchronized production partner for the latest iPhone models. This transformation underscores the success of long-term industrial planning, infrastructure investment, and workforce readiness coming together at the right geopolitical moment.

More importantly, this milestone positions India as a serious alternative in a world seeking diversified supply chains. The growing presence of global manufacturers, rising employment across the electronics ecosystem, and the push toward component and semiconductor manufacturing indicate that the shift goes beyond assembly lines. It marks the early consolidation of a broader high-tech manufacturing ecosystem. As global firms reassess risk and resilience, India’s ability to combine scale, democratic stability, and improving technological depth strengthens its claim as a central pillar in future global production networks.

(Sources: The Economic Times, The Times of India, OpIndia)