News Desk
India’s mobile phone exports have experienced remarkable growth, with a 50% increase in the first ten months of the current fiscal year (April 2023–January 2024), reaching an estimated ₹1.5 lakh crore (approximately $18 billion) compared to ₹1 lakh crore (approximately $12 billion) during the same period last year. This surge is largely attributed to Apple’s expanded iPhone production in the country.
Apple has significantly increased its manufacturing footprint in India, establishing major hubs that mirror its operations in China. Between April and October 2024, Apple’s iPhone production in India surpassed $10 billion, with exports accounting for nearly $7 billion, marking a 37% increase over the same period the previous year.
Notably, October 2024 alone saw over $2 billion in iPhone production, setting a new monthly record for the company in India.
Tata Electronics, a key Apple supplier, has played a pivotal role in this expansion. In 2024, Tata’s iPhone production exceeded ₹40,000 crore (approximately $4.8 billion), a 180% year-on-year increase. The Karnataka facility, acquired in 2023, now represents 26% of India’s iPhone output, with exports rising to ₹31,000 crore (approximately $3.7 billion).
Samsung has also contributed to India’s mobile phone export growth, with estimated exports of ₹34,500 crore (approximately $4.1 billion) during the same period.
The Indian government’s Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme has been instrumental in this growth, encouraging large-scale electronics manufacturing. The scheme has generated significant revenue and employment, with the mobile electronics manufacturing ecosystem producing goods worth $50 billion in FY24 and creating over 1.2 million jobs.
The India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) projects total mobile phone exports to reach ₹1.8 lakh crore (approximately $21.6 billion) by the end of the fiscal year, up from ₹1.3 lakh crore (approximately $15.6 billion) last year. ICEA Chairman Pankaj Mohindroo highlighted this achievement, noting a 40% growth over the previous fiscal year and an estimated 680% growth since the PLI scheme’s inception in FY21. The United States stands out as a key market for these exports.
Looking ahead, Apple aims to produce 25% of its iPhones in India by 2027, up from the current 15%.
This strategic shift not only bolsters India’s position in the global electronics supply chain but also reflects the country’s growing importance as a manufacturing hub. The collaborative efforts of multinational corporations and supportive government policies continue to drive positive momentum in India’s mobile phone production and exports.
