India Supplies 1 in 3 Smartphones to US Amid Apple Shift

• India’s Share in US Smartphone Imports Jumps to 36 Percent.
• Apple Boosts India’s Role in US Smartphone Supply Chain.
• iPhone Production Surge Pushes India’s US Export Share to 36%.

India has become a significant participant in the worldwide smartphone supply chain, currently representing almost one-third of all smartphones brought into the US, primarily driven by Apple’s increasing iPhone manufacturing in the nation.

According to reports, despite worries about a possible 25% tariff on iPhones manufactured in India suggested by former US President Donald Trump, India's portion of US smartphone imports increased from 11% in 2024 to 36% by May 2025.

As per a report by the Indian Express, US smartphone imports from India surged more than threefold year-on-year to 21.3 million units from January to May this year, based on information from the US International Trade Commission (USITC). In value terms (CIF), imports of Indian-manufactured smartphones rose 182 percent year-on-year to $9.35 billion, exceeding approximately $7 billion for the entirety of 2024.

Apple's increasing investment in manufacturing in India is changing trade patterns. Its primary supplier Foxconn revealed a $1.49 billion expansion in Tamil Nadu, and India currently manufactures approximately 20% of the global iPhone output. In May, Apple CEO Tim Cook mentioned that the company anticipates a majority of iPhones sold in the US during the April-June quarter will be produced in India.

Reports indicate that China shipped 29.4 million smartphones to the US from January to May, reflecting a year-on-year decrease of 27 percent, with a total value of approximately $10 billion. China (49 percent) and India (36 percent) were succeeded by Vietnam, which exported 8.3 million units, representing a share of 14 percent.

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China, previously the leading contributor, has watched its portion of US smartphone imports decrease from 82% in 2024 to below 50%. Vietnam currently accounts for approximately 14%, yet India's swift ascent underscores a strategic diversification within the global tech manufacturing sector.

The change highlights how geopolitical dynamics, tariffs, and business strategies are transforming the production locations of global smartphones and their delivery to American customers.

India’s increasing share, currently 1 in 3, largely propelled by Apple iPhones, occurs during ongoing trade discussions with the US. Although smartphones represent India's leading export to the US by value, President Donald Trump has warned of a 25 percent tariff on iPhones manufactured in India.