In a dramatic move to sidestep rising US tariffs on Chinese imports, Apple has quietly airlifted around 1.5 million iPhones — roughly 600 tons worth—from India to the United States, according to Reuters.
The tech giant’s decision comes amid escalating trade tensions, with President Donald Trump’s administration slapping a steep 125% tariff on imports from China, Apple’s traditional manufacturing hub.
By contrast, India faces a more manageable 26% tariff — though this rate is currently on pause for 90 days following a recent exemption that excludes China.
To navigate the shifting landscape, Apple chartered six cargo flights — each with a capacity of 100 tons — since March, ferrying phones built in Tamil Nadu's capital, Chennai. One of those flights took off this week, just as the new tariffs kicked in.“Apple wanted to beat the tariff,” one source said.
To facilitate exports, Apple reportedly lobbied Indian airport authorities to reduce customs clearance time at Chennai International Airport from 30 hours to just six, establishing a “green corridor” similar to those used in China.
Apple spent eight months planning the logistics, with support from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration.
The airlift signals a strategic shift in Apple’s global supply chain, reflecting its broader efforts to reduce dependence on China. Analysts have warned that iPhone prices could surge sharply in the U.S. due to the tariff hike. At the current 125% rate, the top-end iPhone 16 Pro Max, which retails for $1 599, could cost up to $2 300, according to Rosenblatt Securities.
To meet the new demand, Apple ramped up Indian production by 20%, sources said. Foxconn’s Chennai factory — the largest iPhone production hub in India — extended operations to Sundays, traditionally a day off. The plant manufactured 20 million units last year, including iPhone 15 and 16 models.
Foxconn’s shipments from India to the U.S. soared to $770 million in January and $643 million in February, compared to a monthly range of $110 million to $331 million in the preceding months, customs data shows.
More than 85% of the air shipments landed in major U.S. cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco.Apple and India’s aviation ministry declined to comment. - All sources requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the strategy.
