Apple plans to shift the meeting of all iPhones bought in the USA to India as early as subsequent 12 months, pivoting away from China to keep away from steep tariffs, the Monetary Occasions reported, citing folks aware of the matter.
The corporate didn’t instantly reply to a Reuters request for remark.
US President Donald Trump’s commerce conflict is pushing tech corporations to diversify their provide chains. Apple is positioning India to play a key function in its manufacturing technique, although its suppliers within the nation at present produce solely a small share of iPhones bought globally.
Analysts had beforehand warned that client items comparable to iPhones could possibly be among the many hardest hit by Trump’s broad tariffs and stated US iPhone costs may rise sharply attributable to Apple’s heavy dependence on Chinese language imports.
Increased costs may squeeze Apple’s margins and provides Android smartphone makers a aggressive edge.
Earlier this month, Washington granted tariff exclusions for smartphones, computer systems and different electronics principally imported from China, providing some aid to tech companies comparable to Apple.
The corporate sells greater than 220 million iPhones a 12 months worldwide, with Counterpoint Analysis estimating a fifth of the entire imports of the system to the US coming from India, and the remainder from China.
Foxconn and Tata, Apple’s primary suppliers in India, function three factories, with two extra underneath building.
In March, Foxconn and Tata shipped almost US$2 billion value of iPhones from India to the US, a document excessive, in accordance with customs knowledge.
Foxconn’s plant in Chennai now operates on Sundays, sometimes a day without work, two sources informed Reuters. The plant produced 20 million iPhones final 12 months, together with the newest iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 fashions.
