Amid escalating trade tension and significant tariff increases under the President Donald Trump administration, companies like Apple Inc. executed a strategic move by dispatching five aircraft loaded with iPhones and other related products from India to the United States. This happened just 3 days late in March.
The reports also suggest that despite the additional costs that the Cupertino-headquartered tech giant may incur due to tariffs, Apple is not planning to raise its retail prices anytime soon in India or elsewhere.
According to the reports, the company moved significant inventory from its manufacturing hubs in India and China to the U.S., even though March was not a favourable month for the shipment due to Trump’s tariff administration.
It is to be said that early shipments are expected to temporarily shield Apple from higher duties and allow the company to maintain stable pricing for the next few months.
Also Read: Trump Exempts Pharma, Semiconductor Industries From New Tariffs
Apple’s Global Growth: The Crucial Role of India
While Apple remains heavily reliant on China – with 90% of iPhone assemblies there- India has quickly emerged as a key player. India has reportedly produced 14% of the total production, which is expected to increase by 25% by 2028.
Apple’s partnerships with firms like Foxconn and Wistron have boosted production. Government incentives under the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) have accelerated this shift, and now, Apple is assembling a significant portion of the latest iPhones in India.
Moreover, India is not only Apple’s production base but also one of the fastest-growing sales markets. With the strong demand for premium smartphones, especially iPhones, India plays a dual role in Apple’s market: both a production centre and a major consumer market.
