Apple airlifted 1.5 million iPhones from India to the US in a strategic move to avoid steep tariffs on China-made devices.
Credit : Shutterstock, Alex PakhoMovie
Apple has quietly airlifted around 1.5 million iPhones from India to the United States, in a last-minute move to avoid getting caught in the crosshairs of Donald Trump’s rising import tariffs on China, according to Reuters.
The tech giant chartered six cargo planes, each carrying roughly 100 tonnes of iPhones, out of Chennai airport in southern India — all part of a broader strategy to build up US inventory ahead of the tariffs kicking in. The new rate on China-made electronics soared to 125 per cent this week, compared to just 26 per cent on imports from India.
“They wanted to beat the tariff, plain and simple,” said one insider. And they were quick about it. Apple even negotiated with Indian customs to cut clearance times from 30 hours to just six, creating what’s known as a ‘green corridor’ at the airport — a model the company already uses in parts of China.
Apple boosts iPhone production in India amid China shift
With more than 220 million iPhones sold globally each year, the US remains a top market for Apple. But with Trump’s aggressive tariffs pushing prices up, the company has started to fast-track its pivot away from Chinese manufacturing — and India is emerging as a key player in that plan.
According to Counterpoint Research, India now accounts for around 20 per cent of iPhones imported into the US, with the rest still coming from China. To meet the growing demand, Apple pushed for a 20 per cent increase in production at its Indian factories, operated by Foxconn and Tata. That included running plants on Sundays — typically a day off — and hiring more workers to ramp up output.
The Foxconn factory in Chennai alone produced around 20 million iPhones in 2023, including the iPhone 15 and 16 models.
US iPhone prices may surge due to rising import tariffs
While Apple hasn’t commented on the airlifts, customs data paints a clear picture: Foxconn’s US-bound exports from India surged to $770 million in January and $643 million in February, more than doubling the figures from previous months.
Most shipments landed in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco — hinting at a clear intent to bolster inventory across key American markets before prices spike. Analysts had warned that if the tariffs were applied to China-made phones, the top-end iPhone 16 Pro Max could jump from $1,599 to around $2,300.
For now, the US has granted a 90-day pause on new tariffs — excluding China — giving Apple and other companies a narrow window to readjust. But one thing’s clear: India is no longer just part of the backup plan — it’s at the heart of Apple’s future manufacturing map.
