Tech big Apple chartered cargo flights to ferry 600 tons of iPhones, or as many as 1.5 million, to the US from India, after it stepped up manufacturing there in an effort to beat President Donald Trump’s tariffs, sources instructed Reuters.
The main points of the push present an perception into the US smartphone firm’s non-public technique to navigate across the Trump tariffs and construct up stock of its well-liked iPhones in the US, one in every of its greatest markets.
Analysts have warned that US costs of iPhones might surge, given Apple’s excessive reliance on imports from China, the principle manufacturing hub of the gadgets, which is topic to Trump’s highest tariff charge of 125 p.c.
That determine is much in extra of the tariff of 26 p.c on imports from India, however which is now on maintain after Trump known as a 90-day pause this week that excludes China.
Apple “wished to beat the tariff,” stated one of many sources acquainted with the planning.
The corporate lobbied Indian airport authorities to chop to 6 hours the time wanted to clear customs on the Chennai airport within the southern state of Tamil Nadu, down from 30 hours, the supply added.
The so-called “inexperienced hall” association on the airport within the Indian manufacturing hub emulated a mannequin Apple makes use of at some airports in China, the supply stated.
About six cargo jets with a capability of 100 tons every have flown out since March, one in every of them this week simply as new tariffs kicked in, the supply and an Indian authorities official stated.
The packaged weight of an iPhone 14 and its charging cable come to about 350 grams (12.35 oz), Reuters measurements present, implying the entire cargo of 600 tons comprised about 1.5 million iPhones, after accounting for some packaging weight.
Apple and India’s aviation ministry didn’t reply to a request for remark. All of the sources sought anonymity because the technique and discussions had been non-public.
Apple sells greater than 220 million iPhones a yr worldwide, with Counterpoint Analysis estimating a fifth of complete iPhone imports to the US now come from India, and the remainder from China.
Trump constantly elevated US tariffs on China, to face at 125 p.c by Wednesday, from 54 p.c earlier.
On the 54 p.c tariff charge, the $1,599 (roughly Rs. 1.37 lakh) value of the top-end iPhone 16 Professional Max in the US would have surged to $2,300 (roughly Rs. 1.97 lakh), calculations primarily based on projections by Rosenblatt Securities present.
Sunday Shifts
In India, Apple stepped up air shipments to satisfy its aim of a 20 p.c improve in standard manufacturing at iPhone crops, attained by including staff, and quickly extending operations on the greatest Foxconn India manufacturing facility to Sundays, the supply added.
Two different direct sources confirmed the Foxconn plant in Chennai now runs on Sundays, which is often a vacation. The plant turned out 20 million iPhones final yr, together with the newest iPhone 15 and 16 fashions.
As Apple diversifies its manufacturing past China, it has positioned India for a important function. Foxconn and Tata, its two foremost suppliers there, have three factories in all, with two extra being constructed.
Apple spent about eight months to plan and arrange the expedited customs clearance in Chennai, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s authorities requested officers to help Apple, one senior Indian official stated.
Foxconn shipments from India to the US surged in worth to $770 million (roughly Rs. 6,628 crore) in January and $643 million (roughly Rs. 5,536 crore) in February, in comparison with the vary of $110 million (roughly Rs. 947 crore) to $331 million (roughly Rs. 2,850 crore) within the prior 4 months, commercially out there customs knowledge exhibits.
Greater than 85 p.c of the January and February air shipments of Foxconn had been offloaded in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco.
Foxconn didn’t reply to Reuters’ queries.
© Thomson Reuters 2025
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