India has rapidly ascended as a major center for smartphone exports to the U.S., propelled largely by Apple’s production shift and robust manufacturing growth. This transformation comes amid evolving geopolitical dynamics and marks a significant reordering of global supply chains.

Key Data Table: India’s Smartphone Exports to the U.S. (2024–2025)

Metric	2024	2025 (Jan–May or Latest)	China Comparison/Context
India’s Share of U.S. Imports	11%	36%	China: Fell from 82% to 49%
Volume (Units)	~6.8million (est., Jan–May)	21.3million	China: 29.4million
Export Value to U.S.	~$7billion (full year)	$9.35billion (Jan–May)	China: $10billion
YoY Value Growth	—	+182%	China: Shipments –27%
Apple’s India iPhone Production	~14–17% of global (2024)	~20% of global; 23.9million units	Foxconn, Pegatron & Tata
Mobile Manufacturing Units (India)	2 (in 2014–15)	300 (2024–25)	—
Mobile Production Growth	—	28-fold rise since 2014–15	—
Mobile Export Growth	—	127-fold rise since 2014–15	—
Foreign Direct Investment (Electronics)	—	$4billion since FY21	—
Competitive Pricing	—	China’s avg. U.S. export price ↓45%	Price cuts to compete

Brand Highlights in India’s U.S. Smartphone Export Boom

Brand	Key Role in Exports	Remarks
Apple	Drives majority of India’s U.S. exports; about 20% of global iPhones now made in India	Foxconn, Pegatron, Tata Group major contributors
Samsung	Significant exports via Indian plants	Exports fell ~20% in early 2025
Other Brands	Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo contribute to global exports but less to U.S. volumes	Smaller share in U.S. context

Key Trends and Strategic Drivers

• Apple’s Manufacturing Pivot: Apple’s expansion in India is foundational, with aggressive output growth and nearly all new iPhone models, including high-end variants, produced for export to the U.S.
• Rise of Indian Manufacturing: Local mobile manufacturing units mushroomed from just 2 in 2014 to 300 in 2025, reflecting the country’s meteoric manufacturing leap.
• Government Incentives: Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes and other policies have fueled India’s attractiveness for electronics manufacturing.
• China’s Export Decline and Price Cuts: China’s shipments to the U.S. have fallen sharply amid tariffs and competition, with manufacturers slashing prices by up to 45%.
• Foreign Investment Surge: Over $4billion in FDI has flowed into India’s electronics sector since FY21.
• Geopolitical Winds: Trade tensions and tariff threats between the U.S. and China have accelerated the global shift toward India as an alternative manufacturing base.

India’s emergence as a smartphone export powerhouse—especially for Apple and increasingly for Samsung—illustrates a pivotal transformation in the global electronics landscape, positioning the country as a cornerstone for supply to Western markets and a viable alternative to China as of mid-2025.