Dublin: Apple has significantly increased its smartphone exports from India to the United States in a strategic move to get ahead of rising U.S. tariffs, according to Indian customs records. Major Apple suppliers Foxconn and Tata Electronics are reported to have shipped approximately 600 tonnes of iPhones via air freight in March, in what officials described as a preemptive measure to minimise the financial impact of anticipated tariff increases.
The operation involved six dedicated cargo jets, primarily departing from the Chennai Air Cargo Terminal, with shipments destined for key U.S. markets including Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York. According to a customs report from Chennai, the companies requested expedited export processing, reducing clearance times from 30 hours to just six hours, to fast-track the shipments.
Record-Breaking iPhone Exports
Customs data show that in March alone, Apple’s suppliers exported smartphones valued at over $1 billion (approximately €1.2 billion)—marking an all-time high for monthly exports to the U.S. This figure is equal to the combined total of exports in January and February, underlining the scale of the effort.
Foxconn accounted for the bulk of the exports, shipping $1 billion worth of iPhones, including popular models such as the iPhone 13, 14, 16, and 16L. The company’s total iPhone exports from India to the U.S. so far this year stand at an estimated $3.5 billion.
Tata Electronics also saw a sharp rise in its shipments, exporting approximately $112 million worth of Apple devices in March—a 63% increase from the previous month. The majority of these were iPhone SE and iPhone 14 models.
Strategic Move Amid Tariff Uncertainty
The accelerated shipments come amid growing concern over escalating U.S. trade policies. In April, the U.S. administration imposed a 26% tariff on imports from India, prompting companies to rush deliveries ahead of the increase. Tariffs on Chinese electronics had already soared above 100%, although a temporary three-month suspension was granted to non-Chinese imports.
Subsequently, President Donald Trump issued a short-term exemption on elevated tariffs for smartphones and electronic devices imported from China, further intensifying global trade shifts.
Apple has been steadily ramping up its production capacity in India as part of a broader strategy to diversify its manufacturing footprint beyond China. The surge in exports reflects Apple’s commitment to leveraging India as a key global production and export hub.
Irish Samachar English News
{OR} Kindly click to follow the Irish Samachar News channel on WhatsApp