Apple has achieved a major milestone in India, with iPhone exports from the country touching a record Rs 2 trillion in FY26, making it India’s single largest branded export across product categories. The development marks a significant moment for both Apple’s manufacturing strategy and India’s ambitions to become a global electronics production hub.
According to government data cited by multiple reports, iPhones accounted for more than 75% of India’s total smartphone exports, which stood at around Rs 2.6 trillion ($29.4 billion) during the first 11 months of FY26. This puts Apple’s flagship smartphone ahead of other major export categories such as automotive diesel fuel, diamonds, pharmaceuticals and motor gasoline.
Apple’s iPhone exports rose from Rs 9,351.6 crore in FY22 to Rs 44,269.5 crore in FY23, before climbing to Rs 85,013.5 crore in FY24 and further jumping to Rs 1.5 trillion in FY25. In FY26, exports recorded another sharp rise of nearly 33% year-on-year, despite global trade disruptions and geopolitical uncertainties.
India has become increasingly central to Apple’s global supply chain diversification strategy as the company looks to reduce its dependence on China. Manufacturing partners including Foxconn and Tata Electronics have significantly expanded local production capacity, contributing almost equally to India’s iPhone export volumes.
Apple’s broader India ecosystem now includes over 40 suppliers and is estimated to employ around 250,000 people, underscoring the scale of its manufacturing footprint in the country. Reports also indicate that more than 70% of the workforce across major facilities comprises women, reflecting the labour-intensive nature of electronics assembly.
