Apple to Produce Majority of US-Bound iPhones in India for June Quarter: Tim Cook
Apple CEO Tim Cook has revealed that most iPhones shipped in the United States between April and June 2025 will be made in India, representing a major change in the technology giant's worldwide production plan.
In the firm's second-quarter earnings call, Cook said, "The vast majority of iPhones that are sold in the US will be made in India," adding that Vietnam would account for almost all of the iPads, Macs, Apple Watches, and AirPods sold in the US market.
Apple is making this move as it attempts to offset the impact of US President Donald Trump's persistent tariff actions, which have focused on China imports. While certain technology products, such as smartphones and semiconductors, have gotten a temporary reprieve, Cook warned that if existing tariff regimes do not change, they will add up to $900 million to Apple's costs in the quarter. "We cannot accurately estimate the impact of tariffs because we don't know what may happen in advance of the end of the quarter," Cook said.
India's growing place in Apple's supply chain is determined by both strategic and economic reasons. A key reason is the comparatively lower two-way tariffs on goods produced in India in contrast to those of China and Vietnam. Apple has also moved positively to hasten exports in a bid to circumvent upcoming US duties. From March, six cargo aircraft have shipped about 600 tonnes of iPhones worth around 1.5 million units from India to the US.
In spite of this shift, Cook made it clear that China will remain Apple's main manufacturing center for the majority of products to be sold internationally. At the moment, China produces 76.6% of all phones globally, with Vietnam at 9.9%, India at 8.4%, and South Korea at 1.2%.
Apple started local assembly of iPhones in India in 2017 with its contract manufacturers, initially on low-end models and then later on expanding to Pro variants in 2022. In the financial year 2024–25, Apple locally assembled $22 billion worth of iPhones in India, up 60% from last year. India now accounts for one out of every five iPhones manufactured worldwide.
Meanwhile, Apple's Chinese sales fell 2.3% to $16 billion during the March quarter, as the firm is grappling with growing competition from local players like Huawei, Xiaomi, and Oppo. Apple is also facing delays in introducing new artificial intelligence features, making its performance in the market more challenging.
In better news, Cook emphasized record sales across a number of markets internationally, such as India, and reaffirmed plans for new Apple retail outlets in the country later this year. Apple delivered 75.9 million iPhones in the United States alone in 2024, adding to the strategic significance of the American market as it overhauls its supply chain
