Apple chartered cargo flights to transport 600 tons of iPhones, potentially as many as 1.5 million units, from India to the US, aiming to bolster its American inventory amid fluctuating tariff landscapes. This strategic move highlights Apple’s effort to mitigate the impact of potential tariffs, particularly those related to its primary manufacturing hub in China.
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Sources familiar with the operation revealed that Apple expedited shipments from India to avoid potential tariff hikes, particularly as President Trump’s policies introduced significant uncertainty. Analysts have warned that US iPhone prices could surge due to the high reliance on Chinese manufacturing, which faces a potential 145% tariff. In contrast, imports from India currently face a 26% tariff, which has been temporarily paused.
An insider stated that Apple “wanted to beat the tariff,” and to achieve this, the company successfully lobbied Indian airport authorities to reduce customs clearance times at Chennai airport from 30 hours to six, creating a “green corridor” similar to those used in China. Since March, approximately six cargo jets, each carrying 100 tons of iPhones, have departed from Chennai, with one flight occurring as new tariffs were implemented.
The total cargo of 600 tons, considering the approximate 350-gram weight of an iPhone 14 and its charging cable, suggests around 1.5 million units were shipped. Apple and India’s aviation ministry have not commented on these reports.
Apple, which sells over 220 million iPhones globally annually, now imports a fifth of its US-bound iPhones from India, according to Counterpoint Research, with the remainder coming from China. The company has ramped up production in India, increasing workforce and extending operations at the Foxconn India factory to include Sundays, traditionally a holiday. This factory, which produced 20 million iPhones last year, including the latest models, is a key component of Apple’s diversification strategy away from China.
Apple’s strategic planning, including the expedited customs setup in Chennai, involved an eight-month preparation period, with support from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. Foxconn’s shipments from India to the US significantly increased in January and February, with the majority of these shipments offloaded in major US cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco.
