iPhone becomes India’s biggest export in 2025, Apple’s 76% share

Apple’s iPhone becomes India’s most valuable export item in 2025. According to industry data, iPhones worth about $23 billion made in India were sent abroad. Most of these phones were exported to America.

This increase was due to the government’s PLI (Production-Linked Incentive) scheme and its strategy to reduce dependence on China. Companies are now producing more in India.

Between January and December 2025, India exported smartphones worth a total of $ 30.13 billion. For the first time, smartphones became the country’s largest export category, overtaking automotive diesel fuel. Apple’s share in total smartphone exports was about 76%. The five-year period of Apple’s PLI scheme is going to end in March 2026.

Apple has five iPhone assembly plants in India. Of these, three are run by Tata Group companies and two are owned by Foxconn. About 45 supply companies are associated with them, including many MSMEs who make parts.

Demand for Made in India
India has now become the world’s second largest mobile phone manufacturer. More than 99% of the phones sold in the country are now ‘Made in India’. There has also been a change in the purchasing pattern of Indian customers. Earlier, people used to buy more budget phones, but in 2025, the base model of iPhone 16 became the best-selling smartphone, according to the report of Counterpoint Research.

In the December quarter, Apple made record earnings in America, Europe, Japan and Asia Pacific. Apple CEO Tim Cook said that the company’s growth remained fast in emerging markets like India and double digit revenue growth was recorded here.

Apple is also going to open a new store in Mumbai on 26th February. According to Tim Cook, India is the second largest smartphone market in the world and here the company has made record earnings in iPhone, Mac, iPad and services.