New Delhi’s manufacturing boom has a new champion: Apple’s iPhone. In a historic shift, the premium smartphone emerged as India’s top exported product in 2025, raking in nearly $23 billion, mostly bound for the United States. Industry data reveals this milestone, underscoring India’s rising prowess in global tech supply chains.
The surge stems from strategic government incentives like the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, which has supercharged local production. Coupled with diversification away from Chinese suppliers, these factors propelled Apple to the forefront. For the full year, smartphones clocked total exports of $30.13 billion, overtaking auto diesel fuel for the first time and claiming the top spot among export categories. Apple’s dominance was staggering, capturing 76% of all smartphone shipments.
India now boasts five iPhone assembly plants—three run by Tata Group units and two by Foxconn—supported by a robust ecosystem of around 45 supplier companies, including many MSMEs providing components for domestic and international markets. This network has solidified India’s position as the world’s second-largest mobile phone producer, with over 99% of phones sold locally now ‘Made in India’.
Consumer trends are shifting too. Counterpoint Research notes a pivot from budget devices to premium models, with the iPhone 16 base variant leading sales charts in 2025. Apple’s global performance dazzled in the December quarter, setting revenue records in the US, Europe, Japan, and the rest of Asia-Pacific.
CEO Tim Cook highlighted this momentum during the latest earnings call: ‘We’ve maintained strong double-digit revenue growth in emerging markets, including India.’ He emphasized India’s status as the second-largest smartphone market and fourth-largest PC market globally, with record revenues from iPhone, Mac, iPad, and services. Apple is set to open another store in Mumbai on February 26, signaling deeper commitment to the region.
As Apple’s five-year PLI tenure nears its March 2026 end, the company’s export leadership marks a transformative chapter for India’s economy, blending policy savvy with manufacturing muscle.