India’s smartphone exports reached a new milestone in the financial year 2024–25 (FY25), surpassing ₹2 lakh crore for the first time, Union Minister for Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, announced on Tuesday.
In a post on X, the minister described it as yet another record-breaking achievement under the government’s Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.
According to Vaishnaw, smartphone exports rose by 54% compared to the previous financial year, as global value chains (GVCs) continued to integrate with India’s growing electronics manufacturing sector.
“The rise in exports is creating massive employment opportunities, with Indian MSMEs becoming part of the global supply network and the local electronics manufacturing ecosystem expanding rapidly,” the minister said.
Earlier industry data had revealed that smartphone exports from India had already crossed ₹1.75 lakh crore during the first 11 months (April to February) of FY25 — surpassing last year’s performance well before the end of the fiscal year.
The sharp growth is largely attributed to the PLI scheme, which has not only driven exports but also significantly reduced smartphone imports. Today, 99% of smartphones used in India are manufactured domestically.
The India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) had projected smartphone exports to touch $20 billion (around ₹1.68 lakh crore) in FY25, but actual figures exceeded expectations by a wide margin.
Apple emerged as the single largest contributor to this export surge, with its iPhone supply chain accounting for nearly 70% of total smartphone exports. Foxconn’s facility in Tamil Nadu alone contributed about 50% of all shipments, recording a 40% year-on-year growth.
Tata Electronics also played a vital role in India’s iPhone production, contributing through its Wistron facility in Karnataka and a 60% stake in Pegatron’s Tamil Nadu operations. These developments have positioned Tata as a key player in Apple’s India-based manufacturing strategy.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that Apple is exploring the possibility of increasing its iPhone exports from India to the United States. The move is being considered as a temporary strategy to bypass high tariffs on Chinese goods and manage rising import costs.
-IANS
