India reaches 25% of global iPhone output as Apple expands local sales

India takes a larger role in Apple’s supply chain

India accounted for 25% of global iPhone production in 2025, or roughly one in every four devices assembled worldwide, according to Economic Times data cited by Mint. Apple’s contract manufacturers assembled about 55 million iPhones in the country during the year, compared with 36 million in 2024. The increase highlights how a decade of policy support and supply-chain investment has turned India into a major production base for the US technology group.

The expansion has been supported by New Delhi’s Production-Linked Incentive scheme and Apple’s China+1 strategy. Apple has sought to reduce its dependence on a single manufacturing market while building capacity closer to one of the world’s largest consumer bases. Chief executive Tim Cook said during Apple’s second-quarter 2026 earnings call in April that India was the world’s second-largest smartphone market and third-largest personal-computer market.

Production moves beyond basic assembly

Apple’s Indian partners, including Foxconn and Tata Electronics, are producing every version of the iPhone 17 range, including the Pro and Pro Max models, according to the Economic Times report. The Indian lines are operating in step with global product launches, a notable change from an earlier model in which local production was concentrated on older or less expensive devices.

The supply chain is also expanding beyond final handset assembly. Local production now covers lithium-ion cells, enclosures for phones and watches, and accessories including AirPods. This broader component base can help suppliers achieve greater scale and allows Apple to source more of the value in each finished product within India. It also creates opportunities for domestic manufacturers seeking to join Apple’s supplier network, although the figures supplied by Mint do not show how much of each device’s total value is currently generated in India.

Cook had been making the case for Indian production since at least 2016, when he described the country as a long-term priority. At the time, Apple also faced criticism over a proposed certified pre-owned programme. Cook rejected claims that the company intended to offload inferior used devices, arguing instead for local refurbishment to global standards, with full warranties. The episode illustrated the affordability challenge Apple faced in a price-sensitive market dominated by Android devices.

Retail and financing support premium sales

Apple opened its first company-owned Indian stores in April 2023, with Apple BKC in Mumbai and Apple Saket in New Delhi. Its official store network has since grown to six locations in metropolitan markets. Company-owned outlets complement Apple’s online store and give the group more control over product presentation, customer service and trade-in activity.

Economic Times reported that Apple’s revenue in India has passed $9 billion as financing and trade-in programmes made premium smartphones accessible to a broader group of buyers. The company had already recorded its highest Indian revenue and iPhone shipments in the February quarter of 2023. Apple also plans to introduce Apple Pay in India later this year, according to Mint.

A manufacturing base and a consumer market

India’s importance to Apple now rests on two connected businesses. On the production side, output growth from 36 million to 55 million iPhones gives Apple a larger alternative manufacturing centre and gives suppliers an incentive to add local component capacity. On the demand side, six official stores, financing products and revenue above $9 billion show that India is becoming more than a location for assembling devices sold elsewhere.

The next phase will depend on whether component localisation can keep pace with handset volumes and whether Apple can continue expanding premium-device demand in a market where price remains decisive. For manufacturers, processors of electronic components and investors, India’s 25% share of iPhone output establishes a substantial industrial base. For Apple, the same market now offers both production diversification and growing domestic sales.