The tech giant began moving millions of iPhones to India to bypass the tariffs imposed on China
Last year, this plant produced about 20 million iPhones, including recent models like the iPhone 15 and 16.
Currently, Apple operates three factories in India (two by Foxconn and one by Tata), with two more under construction. It is estimated that one-fifth of iPhone imports to the United States already come from India, with the rest still of Chinese origin.
Apple has begun chartering cargo flights to transport around 1.5 million iPhones from its factories in India to the United States, in an attempt to avoid the high tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on imports from China.
This maneuver reflects the growing importance of India within Apple's global manufacturing strategy and its effort to diversify its production away from China.
In total, about 600 tons of iPhones were transported in six cargo flights, each with a capacity of 100 tons. The measure was driven by the increase in U.S. tariffs on products from China, which now reach 145%, compared to the 26% applied to imports from India, although the latter is on hold for 90 days following a recent decision by Trump.
Sources indicated that Apple pressured airport authorities at Chennai airport, in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, to expedite the customs clearance process from 30 to 6 hours, enabling a "green corridor" similar to what the company already uses at Chinese airports.
This accelerated logistics was planned over eight months, with the support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, which seeks to position India as a key hub for global tech manufacturing.
According to available customs data, Foxconn's air shipments, Apple's main supplier in India, increased significantly in value: USD 770 million in January and USD 643 million in February, compared to between USD 110 million and USD 331 million in the previous four months. The cities of Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco were the main unloading points for these shipments.
Apple's immediate goal was to increase its production in India by 20%, for which the workforce was increased and the workday was extended, including the operation of the largest plant, owned by Foxconn in Chennai, also on Sundays, traditionally a non-working day.
The strategy also responds to the risk of iPhone prices in the United States skyrocketing due to tariffs.
Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported that Apple considers this maneuver a "temporary solution", while seeking a possible exemption from tariffs on products manufactured in China.
If Apple redirects all iPhones produced in India to the United States, this could cover approximately 50% of U.S. demand this year, according to analyst Wamsi Mohan of Bank of America.
For now, moving production to the United States is not economically viable. According to Wedbush Securities, an iPhone manufactured in U.S. territory could cost up to USD 3,500, due to high labor and logistics costs.
