Apple has arranged cargo flights to transport 600 tons of iPhones, which is approximately 1.5 million units, from India to the United States.
A report by Reuters discusses how President Donald Trump’s steep 125% tariffs on Chinese imports are being circumvented. With India facing a much lower tariff of 26% currently paused for 90 days—Apple is increasing production there to safeguard its U.S. market, which is one of its largest.
Since March 2025, about six cargo jets, each carrying 100 tons, have flown out of Chennai, India. One took off this week as new tariffs hit, per sources close to the operation. “Apple wanted to beat the tariff,” one insider said, highlighting the urgency behind the move.
Apple flew 5 flights full of iPhones from India to the US to avoid Trump tariffs: report
Details:
– Urgent shipments were done to avoid 10 percent reciprocal tariffs that came into effect on April 5th.
– Owing to lower tariffs, India is likely to play a more important role in… pic.twitter.com/za9BiPqoTC
— 91mobiles (@91mobiles) April 10, 2025How Apple Pulled It Off
Apple slashed customs clearance time at Chennai airport to make this work from 30 hours to just six. A source explained that this “green corridor” mimics efficiencies Apple uses in China. The company also lobbied India’s government, which supported the effort under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Foxconn’s key supplier, the Chennai plant, boosted output by 20% by adding workers and running Sundays, typically a day off. Last year, it produced 20 million iPhones, including the iPhone 15 and 16.
$AAPL – *APPLE SHIPS 600 TONS OF IPHONES FROM INDIA TO BEAT TARIFFS:RTRS
— *Walter Bloomberg (@DeItaone) April 10, 2025Trump’s tariffs on China jumped to 125% by Wednesday, up from 54%. At the lower rate, a $1,599 iPhone 16 Pro Max would’ve cost $2,300 in the U.S., per Rosenblatt Securities. With China as Apple’s main manufacturing hub, analysts feared price hikes. India, with its paused 26% tariff, became the workaround.
Each iPhone 14 (with cable) weighs about 350 grams, meaning 600 tons equals roughly 1.5 million units, factoring in packaging. Counterpoint Research notes that 20% of U.S. iPhone imports now come from India, with China supplying the rest.
Read: Trump Hikes China Tariffs to 125%, Pauses Others for 90 Days
Apple is diversifying its production beyond China, and India is becoming a key player in this shift. Foxconn and Tata currently operate three factories in India, with plans for two more underway. In January, Foxconn’s shipments from India to the U.S. reached $770 million, followed by $643 million in February. This marks a significant increase from the previous months, where shipments ranged from $110 million to $331 million, according to customs data. The majority of these shipments were delivered to major cities including Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco.
