New Delhi, India – Apple is rapidly expanding its manufacturing operations in India, with exports of iPhones made in the country surging significantly. According to a Bloomberg report, India's iPhone exports from April to September this year reached approximately $60 billion, marking a 33% increase compared to the same period last year.

Industry analysts predict that if this trend continues, India's iPhone exports could exceed $100 billion this year. This shift in Apple's manufacturing strategy is primarily driven by a desire to reduce its reliance on China amid rising geopolitical tensions between the US and China.

Apple currently operates three iPhone manufacturing facilities in the outskirts of Chennai, India, run by Taiwanese giants Foxconn and Pegatron, and Indian conglomerate Tata Electronics. Foxconn, the largest of the three, accounts for nearly half of India's iPhone exports.

India's smartphone exports are largely dominated by iPhones. In the first five months of the current fiscal year, the country exported approximately $2.88 billion worth of iPhones to the United States alone, a dramatic increase from the mere $5.2 million exported in the entire year five years ago.

While Apple currently holds a 7% market share in India's smartphone market, dominated by Chinese brands like Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo, the company is aggressively expanding its manufacturing capacity in the country. Starting this year, Apple has begun assembling the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models in India. Additionally, the company is opening new retail stores in Bangalore and Pune to strengthen its market presence.

By shifting a significant portion of its production to India, Apple aims to diversify its supply chain, mitigate risks associated with geopolitical tensions, and tap into the growing Indian consumer market.

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]