Korean media: iPhone exports from India grow by 53%, surpassing 20 million units for the first time in half a year!
On September 21, Korean media "Herald Economic" published an article stating that under the strong tariff pressure from US President Donald Trump, smartphone exports from India exceeded 40 million units in the first half of this year, an increase of 30% compared to the previous year.
The surge in exports seems to be a result of Trump's tariff policy. Apple focuses on ensuring inventory in the United States to cope with potential cost increases due to tariff hikes, which has led to a significant increase in iPhone exports produced in India.
According to Counterpoint Research, iPhone exports manufactured in India increased by 53% in the first half of this year, and for the first time in half a year, it surpassed 20 million units.
The iPhone 16 is the most exported smartphone from India, accounting for 18% of the total smartphone exports from the country. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 16e follow closely behind, ranking among the top three in terms of export volume.
Although the impact of Trump's tariffs is significant, the surge in Indian smartphone exports reflects the growth of India's smartphone manufacturing ecosystem and its increasing importance in the global supply chain. In addition to Apple, companies such as Motorola and Samsung have also made India an important production base.
Taking Motorola as an example, smartphones produced in India and shipped globally achieved sales of over 1 million units in the first half of the year, an increase of 700% compared to the previous year. It has now surpassed Xiaomi and Vivo, becoming the third largest smartphone exporter from India.
The problem lies in the tariffs imposed by President Trump on India. Trump threatened to impose tariffs as high as 50% on Indian products exported to the US. This has intensified the uncertainty in India's supply chain dynamics.
The final destination of smartphones manufactured in India in the first half of this year is the United States, with 54% of smartphones manufactured in India sold to the US. Apple's 75% of products are sold to the US, while Motorola's 95% of products are sold to the US. Samsung's 60% of smartphones manufactured in India are sold to Europe, but its US shipments also increased by 268%.
Although the sharp increase in Indian smartphone exports to the US in the first half of this year is largely due to Trump's tariff policy, the US still accounts for a large portion of Indian smartphone exports. Last year in the first half, the US accounted for 30% of Indian smartphone exports, making it the largest export destination for India.
Ironically, this trend originated during Trump's first term in office. In order to avoid trade risks caused by the Trump administration, companies such as Apple pushed to move their production bases to India. Combined with the Indian government's policy support to strengthen manufacturing, it formed a synergistic effect with India's efforts to enhance its position in the global supply chain.
However, the situation is rapidly changing because President Trump, who has always advocated reducing the US trade deficit, has also imposed high tariffs on India. Currently, smartphones and electronic products are exempt from tariffs, but this is only a "temporary measure." The trend of significant adjustments in the Trump administration's policies makes the future outlook unpredictable.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1843872100642828/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.