A tech triumph unfolds: In 2025, Apple’s iPhone rocketed to India’s most valuable export, dispatching $23 billion primarily to the US, per industry insights. This leap catapults smartphones into the spotlight.
PLI incentives and weaning off Chinese dependencies sparked the boom. Total smartphone exports reached $30.13 billion yearly, toppling diesel and autos for prime position—Apple snagging 76%.
Five plants anchor the effort: Tata’s trio and Foxconn’s duo, sustained by 45 firms, many MSMEs, supplying parts everywhere. India’s now #2 worldwide in phone production, with 99%+ domestic units locally made.
Shifts in buying habits favor premiums, says Counterpoint, crowning iPhone 16 base as 2025’s bestseller. Apple’s fiscal Q4 set revenue peaks in the US, Europe, Japan, Asia-Pacific.
Earnings call star Tim Cook: ‘Strong double-digit growth in markets like India.’ Records abound for iPhones, Macs, iPads, services—in the #2 phone, #4 PC nation. Mumbai store #2 bows February 26.
PLI expires 2026, but iPhone’s reign heralds India’s tech export era, blending policy, partnerships, and production prowess.