Apple Exports $50 Billion Worth of iPhones from India, PLI Scheme Transforms the Game

India’s Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for smartphones, launched in 2021–22, has delivered remarkable results, making smartphones the country’s top export item. Under this scheme, Apple alone has exported $50 billion worth of iPhones from India.

Record Exports by Apple
According to a report by the Economic Times, Apple has exported iPhones worth $50 billion from India through its vendors up to December 2025. These exports are part of the PLI program, which Apple joined in FY 2021–22. The figure is expected to grow further, as three months remain in the five-year PLI period. With a market capitalization second only to Nvidia globally, Apple has leveraged India as a key manufacturing hub.

An official noted that in the first nine months of FY 2025–26, Apple alone exported approximately $16 billion, taking the cumulative PLI-period iPhone exports beyond $50 billion. Samsung, one of Apple’s major global competitors, has exported nearly $17 billion worth of mobile phones over five years. Apple and Samsung have not publicly disclosed detailed PLI export figures.

Growing Domestic Manufacturing
Currently, India hosts five iPhone manufacturing plants—three operated by Tata and two by Foxconn. These factories form the backbone of a supply chain comprising around 45 companies, including numerous MSMEs, which produce components for Apple’s domestic and global operations. Due to these exports, smartphones have become India’s largest export product, rising from 167th position in 2015. Apple accounts for 75% of total iPhone shipments from India, with about 6.5 million units sold domestically in 2025.

Support Beyond the PLI Scheme
The current smartphone PLI scheme is scheduled to end in March 2025, but the government plans to continue supporting the industry through new incentive programs aimed at boosting manufacturing. Officials emphasized that Indian manufacturers still face challenges compared to countries like China and Vietnam, and ongoing support will help bridge this gap.

Impact on the Global Supply Chain
Before the PLI program, India already exported mobile phones, but growth accelerated after the scheme’s introduction. Apple has brought many of its global suppliers to India. Selected vendors under the program include Madrasin, Tata Electronics, and Foxconn, which manufacture iPhone casings, while ATL produces lithium-ion cells and Hindalco handles aluminum extrusion. Samsung, too, will produce display module sub-assemblies, creating around 300 additional jobs.

For the first time, India is exporting electronic components to China and Vietnam, which are then used in the manufacturing of Apple products such as MacBooks, AirPods, Watches, Pencils, and iPhones, showcasing the growing strength of India’s electronics ecosystem.