Nearly all iPhones made by Foxconn in India now head to the U.S. as Apple races to dodge Trump’s tariffs

Nearly all the iPhones exported by Foxconn—97%—from India went to the U.S. between March and May, Reuters reported on Friday, citing customs data, signalling a pre-emptive move that the Cupertino-based giant has decided on to bypass the tariffs the U.S. has imposed on China.

The export is nearly double that of the 50% iPhones exported in 2024, according to customs data seen by the news agency, and were worth $3.2 billion. According to the report, the data suggests that Apple is realigning its exports to almost exclusively serve the U.S. market, compared to previously, when the devices were exported to a host of countries, including the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Britain.

iPhone shipments by Foxconn from India to the U.S. in May were worth nearly $1 billion, the second-highest ever after the $1.3 billion worth of iPhones exported in March, the report said.

The development comes at a time when Apple’s increased involvement in India has elicited a strong rebuke from U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump, at an event with business leaders in Qatar last month, spoke of a conversation with Apple CEO Tim Cook. “I said I don’t want you building in India,” Trump recounted.

Trump followed that up with an ultimatum—either make iPhones to be sold in the U.S. in the country only, or face a 25% tariff. “I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else. If that is not the case, a tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S.,” read Trump’s post on Truth Social, his social media platform

Although Apple later remarked that the plans for India remain unchanged, the iPhones meant for the U.S. will be made in India. Ashwini Vaishnaw, India’s IT Minister, recently revealed Apple exported a massive ₹1.5 lakh crore, or $17.4 billion, worth of iPhones in FY25. 

Last month, the Taiwanese contract manufacturer also disclosed in a regulatory filing that it will infuse $1.5 billion in its Indian subsidiary. Foxconn’s Singapore-based subsidiary will buy 12.77 billion shares worth ₹10 apiece, totalling about ₹12,774 crore ($1.5 billion) in Yuzhan Technology India, the filing reads. 

Unlike its competition, Apple does its manufacturing in two to three countries. The iPhone is made only in China and India. There are some operations in Vietnam relating to iMac and iPad, but the scale and growth opportunities of manufacturing in India are second only to China.