Apple Exported $1 Bn Worth Smartphones From India In December 2022

Tech colossal Apple reportedly exported $1 Bn (INR 8,100 Cr) worth smartphones from India in December 2022. 

During the same month, India’s cumulative smartphone export stood at over INR 10,000 Cr. Before that, in November 2022, Apple surpassed Samsung, becoming a leading smartphone exporter in the country, as per the data available with The Economic Times.

In December 2022, when the country clocked INR 10,000 Cr of smartphone export, Samsung’s manufacturing unit in India was closed for about 15 days due to regular maintenance, which dropped its production and exports in that month, shared by government officials.

The development comes at a time when Apple is aiming to soar its production in India from  7% to 25% in the future. 

“Apple is already at about 5-7% of their manufacturing in India. If I am not mistaken, they are targeting to go up to 25% of their manufacturing. They launched the most recent models from India, manufactured in India,” Goyal added.

Apple, along with its contract manufacturers, is currently manufacturing and exporting its smartphone models–iPhone 12, 13, 14 and 14+ from India. Besides this, it has also partnered with small exporters that are exporting iPhones from the country.

The tech giant’s three major contract manufacturers–Foxconn Hon Hai, Pegatron and Wistron are currently participating in the Centre’s smartphone production linked incentive (PLI) scheme. 

As part of the PLI scheme, the three manufacturers have to share data on production, exports, investments and jobs periodically with the Indian government.

The Centre anticipates pegging the Indian export mobile phones at around $9 Bn in the financial year 2023 against $5.8 Bn valued in the previous fiscal year (FY2022). 

According to the Department of Commerce, between April and November 2022, India exported more than 6 Bn worth of smartphones.

The current development comes on the heels of Apple’s 14 Chinese suppliers receiving initial approval from the Centre to set up a base in India. 

Luxshare Precision Industry, Sunny Optical Technology Group, Han’s Laser Technology Industry Group and Shenzhen YUTO Packaging Technology, among others are some of Apple’s Chinese suppliers.

Apple’s Chinese suppliers would be collaborating with the Indian joint venture partners to commence operations in the nation.  

Simultaneously, the tech giant is expediting its plans to open retail outlets in India and is reportedly launching two flagship stores in India–one in Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex and the other in Delhi’s Saket region.