The Apple iPhone has created history in India’s export sector. In 2025, iPhone exports from India surpassed automotive diesel fuel, making smartphones the country’s largest export category for the first time. With exports touching nearly $23 billion (over ₹2 lakh crore), the iPhone has emerged as a symbol of India’s growing strength as a global electronics manufacturing hub.
Smartphone Exports Redefine India’s Trade Landscape
According to industry data, iPhone exports from India are estimated to reach around $23 billion in 2025, accounting for nearly 76 percent of India’s total smartphone exports. Overall smartphone exports stood at $30.13 billion (approximately ₹2.7 lakh crore) between January and December, with Apple contributing the lion’s share.
This marks a major shift, as smartphones overtook automotive diesel fuel to become India’s number one export product, underscoring the rapid transformation of the country’s manufacturing ecosystem.
PLI Scheme and China Diversification Drive Growth
Experts attribute this surge largely to the government’s Production Linked Incentive scheme, which offered financial incentives to companies expanding production in India. At the same time, global manufacturers have been diversifying supply chains away from China, accelerating investments in Indian facilities.
Together, these factors helped scale up iPhone manufacturing at an unprecedented pace. However, Apple’s five-year PLI incentive period is scheduled to end in March 2026, making the next phase of growth closely watched.
Strong Manufacturing Network in India
India currently has five iPhone assembly plants in operation. Three are run by companies under the Tata Group, while two are operated by Foxconn. These facilities are supported by around 45 supplier companies, many of them MSMEs.
As a result, India has become the world’s second-largest mobile phone producer, with more than 99 percent of phones sold domestically now manufactured locally.
Domestic Demand for iPhones Also Surges
The export boom is being matched by strong demand within India. According to Counterpoint Research, the base variant of the iPhone 16 was the best-selling smartphone in India in 2025.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has also highlighted that the company is witnessing double-digit revenue growth in emerging markets like India. Apple recorded its highest-ever revenue in India during the December quarter.
A Turning Point for India’s Electronics Sector
The iPhone’s rise to the top of India’s export chart signals more than just Apple’s success—it reflects India’s fast-evolving role as a global electronics manufacturing powerhouse, moving well beyond its identity as a consumer-only market.
