Apple Ships $5-Billion iPhones From India In Q1 FY26, India’s Smartphone Exports Hit $7 Billion

Last Updated:July 19, 2025, 12:56 IST

India’s total smartphone exports cross $7 billion in the June quarter, marking over 40% growth year-on-year from approximately $5 billion in Q1 FY25.

Apple has exported over $5 billion worth of iPhones from India during the April–June quarter of FY26, accounting for nearly 70% of the country’s total smartphone exports, according to preliminary data reviewed by Moneycontrol. This is a sharp rise from around $3 billion in the same quarter last year, underscoring India’s growing role in global electronics manufacturing.

Fuelled by Apple’s ongoing production ramp-up via Foxconn and Tata Electronics, India’s total smartphone exports crossed $7 billion in the June quarter, marking over 40% growth year-on-year from approximately $5 billion in Q1 FY25.

While Apple’s iPhone exports remained strong, they were slightly lower than the January-March quarter, when shipments touched Rs 48,000 crore ($5.58 billion). That earlier spike was partially driven by Apple building inventory ahead of new U.S. import tariffs effective April 2. A slight dip in Q1 is typical, as global demand softens in anticipation of new iPhone launches in September.

Foxconn and Tata Lead the Export Charge

Foxconn contributed the majority of iPhone shipments in the quarter, with Tata Electronics — which recently took over Pegatron’s operations — also playing a significant role. A large portion of India-made iPhones continues to be exported to the US market.

“Mobile phones have been one of the major success stories, and continuous support from the government is needed, especially in light of the targeted Chinese restrictions around capital equipment, rare-earth minerals, and the availability of skilled Chinese technical personnel,” a Moneycontrol report cited an industry executive as saying.

The executive further noted that the entire $2 billion jump in India’s electronics exports in Q1 came solely from smartphones.

Smartphones Now India’s Third-Largest Export

In FY25, India’s smartphone production touched $64 billion, with exports accounting for $24.1 billion — or about 38% of the total output. From being ranked 167th among export categories in FY15, smartphones have now emerged as India’s third-largest export by FY25, trailing only engineering goods and petroleum products.

China’s Informal Restrictions Raise Concerns

The Indian Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), which represents major players including Apple, Foxconn, Tata Electronics, Google, Dixon, Lava, Oppo, and Xiaomi, has raised alarms over China’s informal trade restrictions.

In a letter dated July 1 to IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, ICEA warned that such disruptions pose a risk to India’s $32 billion export-linked electronics manufacturing and the gains made under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.

The industry describes these measures as “carefully calibrated” restrictions that are impacting the import of capital equipment, critical minerals, and Chinese skilled technical personnel — resources vital for scaling up electronics production.

“The interventions by the Government will ensure supply chain continuity, enable technology transfers, and—most importantly—preserve India’s competitiveness as a manufacturing hub by keeping overall manufacturing costs low,” ICEA Chairman Pankaj Mohindroo wrote in the letter, which was also sent to the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of External Affairs, and DPIIT.

Mohammad Haris

Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris h…Read More

Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris h… Read More

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