India Becomes Leading Smartphone Exporter to the US, Overtaking China

Quick Summary

• In 2025, India surpassed China to become the largest smartphone supplier to the United States.
• India’s share in US smartphone imports rose from 13% in 2024 to 44%, while China’s dropped from over 60% to 25%.
• contributing factors include:

– US tariffs on Chinese goods.
– Apple’s relocation of major iPhone production operations to India.
– “Make in India” and Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes boosting Indian manufacturing.
– Geopolitical tensions between the US and China influencing trade patterns.

• India exported nearly 40 million smartphones during early 2025, pushing total production value to ₹5.45 lakh crore and exports value to ₹2 lakh crore.

Indian Opinion Analysis

India’s rapid emergence as a leading global smartphone exporter reflects it’s strategic leveraging of industrial policies,such as Make in India and the PLI scheme. These initiatives have made domestic manufacturing more competitive while attracting international corporations like Apple. The geopolitical tensions between the US and China have further expedited this shift, with tariff policies creating an possibility for alternative sourcing markets like India.

This growth has critically important implications for India’s economy: increased export revenue strengthens foreign exchange reserves, while scaled-up domestic production potentially generates employment across sectors such as manufacturing and logistics. It also showcases India’s growing prominence within global supply chains-a position that could extend beyond electronics into other high-value industries if sustained efforts continue.

Though, challenges remain-India must ensure long-term consistency in infrastructure development and policy frameworks to retain its competitive edge amid evolving global trade dynamics.

Read More