India now makes 44% of all smartphones shipped to US, thanks to Apple

In the wake of fluctuating tariff discussions with China, India has seen a remarkable surge in the export of smartphones to the United States. A recent report from Canalys reveals a staggering drop in the percentage of smartphones shipped to the US from China, plummeting from 61% in the second quarter of 2024 to just 25% by Q2 2025. Conversely, the report highlights that smartphones manufactured in India now represent 44% of total US imports, a dramatic increase from a mere 13% the previous year. Sanyam Chaurasia, Principal Analyst at Canalys, emphasized that this growth is primarily fueled by Apple’s strategic shift in its supply chain towards India. "For the first time in Q2 2025, India has emerged as the leading manufacturing hub for smartphones sold in the US, largely due to Apple’s expedited relocation of its supply chain amid uncertain trade relations between the US and China," Chaurasia noted in a blog post. Apple’s efforts have significantly ramped up production capabilities in India over the years, aligning with its ‘China Plus One’ strategy. This strategy involves reallocating a substantial portion of its export capacity to cater to the US market in 2025. Notably, Apple has commenced the manufacturing of iPhone 16 Pro models in India, although it still relies heavily on its established production facilities in China to meet the demand for these premium devices. Furthermore, Chaurasia pointed out that other smartphone manufacturers, such as Samsung and Motorola, are also increasing their supply to the US from India, albeit at a much slower pace than Apple. While Motorola continues to operate primarily out of China, Samsung largely depends on Vietnam for its smartphone production. As Apple continues to scale up its production in India, the company aims to enhance its iPhone output significantly. Reports suggest that Apple intends to source most of its iPhones for the US market from India by the end of next year, which would necessitate an increase in production from 40 million units to 80 million units. This strategic shift not only underscores India's growing prominence in the global smartphone manufacturing landscape but also reflects the ongoing evolution of tech supply chains in response to geopolitical uncertainties.