New US tariffs have forced Apple to urgently organize the export of 1.5 million iPhones assembled at its factories there from India, Reuters reported, citing its sources.
According to them, Apple has chartered six cargo planes to send 600 tons of gadgets from India, which the company intends to use to replenish its US iPhone stocks before the 26 percent US tariffs on Indian imports take effect. Five of the chartered cargo planes took off from India in March. The US company also accelerated customs clearance for urgent shipments of smartphones from the usual 30 hours to 6.
The US is one of Apple's biggest markets and its importance could increase after President Donald Trump's tariff policies make iPhones significantly more expensive for American consumers.
Apple had earlier planned to shift 25% of iPhone production to India by 2025. The South Asian republic is currently the US manufacturer's second-largest manufacturing base, accounting for 15% of smartphone assembly. Smartphone exports from India in the fiscal year 2024-25 (ended March 31) exceeded INR 1.75 trillion ($21 billion), according to the Cellular and Electronics Association of India. Apple was the largest supplier with its iPhone. 70% of the exported smartphones were from this brand, the rest were smartphones from Samsung and Indian brands.