Customs data reveals that nearly all iPhones exported by Foxconn from India were shipped to the United States between March and May 2025, up from an average of 50.3% in 2024.

This was up from a 2024 average of 50.3%, with 97% of devices during this period and is a clear sign of Apple’s efforts to bypass high US tariffs imposed on China.

In the three months, Foxconn exported iPhones worth US$3.2 billion from India. This includes nearly US$1 billion in May alone.

March recorded the highest-ever monthly export value at US$1.3 billion. For the first five months of 2025, Foxconn has shipped US$4.4 billion worth of iPhones to the US. This exceeds the total of US$3.7 billion for all of 2024.

The data reflects Apple’s strategy to boost production in India and lessen its dependence on China due to high US tariffs on Chinese goods.

Apple and Foxconn did not respond to requests for comment regarding the export trends.

🔗 Source: Reuters

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Apple’s rapid supply chain restructuring reveals unprecedented agility

The dramatic shift in export destinations demonstrates how quickly tech giants can reconfigure global supply chains when faced with tariff pressures.

In just a few months, Apple redirected India-manufactured iPhones from a diversified global distribution to almost exclusively serving the US market, with 97% of Foxconn’s India exports now going to America compared to only 50.3% in 20241.

This strategic pivot enabled Apple to ship $4.4 billion worth of iPhones to the US from India in just the first five months of 2025, already surpassing the $3.7 billion total for all of 20241.

The speed of this transition is particularly notable given the complexity of Apple’s supply chain, with the company even chartering planes to expedite shipments and lobbying to reduce customs clearance times from 30 hours to just six hours at Chennai airport.

Supply chain experts have previously estimated it would take eight years to shift just 10% of Apple’s production capacity out of China2, yet these recent moves suggest much faster adaptation when economic necessity demands it.

2️⃣ India’s remarkable transformation into a manufacturing powerhouse

India’s journey from a minor player to a critical hub in Apple’s manufacturing strategy shows how quickly the global production landscape can change.