In response to President Trump’s tariffs, tech giant Apple organized cargo flights to transport approximately 600 tons of iPhones—equivalent to about 1.5 million units—from India to the United States. Sources informed Reuters that this move is part of Apple’s strategy to increase production in India.
The insights gleaned from this undertaking reveal Apple’s approach to navigating the tariffs imposed under Trump’s administration while ensuring a sufficient inventory of its popular iPhones in the U.S., a critical market for the brand.
Experts have highlighted concerns that the prices of iPhones in the U.S. could rise significantly because of Apple’s heavy reliance on imports from China, the primary manufacturing location for these devices, where tariffs have reached a steep 125% under Trump’s regime.
In contrast, the tariff on imports from India is much lower at 26%, although it is currently on hold due to a 90-day pause announced by Trump that does not include China.
According to one insider, Apple aimed to “avoid the tariff,” prompting the company to advocate for reduced customs clearance times at Chennai airport, from 30 hours down to just six. This expedited process mirrors a similar arrangement that Apple has managed in certain Chinese airports.
Since March, around six cargo jets, each capable of carrying up to 100 tons, have been dispatched, including one this week as new tariffs were implemented, confirmed both the sources and an Indian government official.
According to measurements from Reuters, the total weight of an iPhone 14 including its charging cable is approximately 350 grams (12.35 ounces), suggesting that the 600 tons of cargo primarily consists of around 1.5 million iPhones, after factoring in packaging weight.
Neither Apple nor India’s aviation ministry provided comments regarding these developments, and all sources requested anonymity as the strategy and discussions were confidential.
Globally, Apple sells over 220 million iPhones each year, with Counterpoint Research estimating that about 20% of total iPhone imports into the U.S. now originate from India, while the remainder comes from China.
Under Trump’s administration, U.S. tariffs on China increased significantly, reaching 125% this week, up from 54% earlier.
Taking into account the 54% tariff rate, projections from Rosenblatt Securities indicated that the price of the high-end iPhone 16 Pro Max, originally set at $1,599, could escalate to $2,300.
To meet its goal of a 20% increase in production at its iPhone manufacturing facilities, Apple has ramped up air shipments from India. This increased output has been achieved by adding more workers and temporarily extending operations at Foxconn’s largest factory in India to include Sundays, as noted by a source.
Two additional sources verified that the Foxconn facility in Chennai has begun operations on Sundays, a departure from the usual holiday schedule. The plant produced 20 million iPhones last year, including the latest iPhone 15 and 16 models.
As Apple shifts its manufacturing focus away from China, India is becoming a key player in its strategy. Foxconn and Tata, Apple’s primary suppliers in the region, currently operate three factories, with plans for two more under construction.
Apple dedicated around eight months to planning and implementing the faster customs procedures at Chennai airport, with support from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration, as stated by a senior Indian official.
Data from customs shows that Foxconn’s shipments from India to the U.S. surged to $770 million in January and $643 million in February, a significant increase compared to the $110 million to $331 million range of the previous four months.
Over 85% of these shipments landed in major cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco during January and February.
Foxconn did not respond to inquiries from Reuters.
