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India Captures Over a Third of US Smartphone Imports as China’s Share Slips

Robust Production Linked Incentives have driven Foxconn’s US$1.48 billion expansion in India to ramp up iPhone output under looming US tariff threats.

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Overview

  • US smartphone imports from India tripled to 21.3 million units in January–May 2025, accounting for 36% of total imports and valued at $9.35 billion, according to USITC data.
  • China’s share of US smartphone imports fell from 82% to 49% over the same period as its exports dropped by 27% year-on-year.
  • Apple has shifted roughly 20% of its global iPhone production to India, with Tim Cook projecting that most US-sold iPhones in the April–June quarter will originate there.
  • Foxconn’s US$1.48 billion investment and new plants in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are scaling up India’s capacity for high-end and US-bound smartphone assembly.
  • Under the PLI scheme, mobile manufacturing units rose from 2 in 2014–15 to 300 in 2024–25 and the supplier network grew to 64 vendors, even as high component duties and proposed US tariffs pose challenges.