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India’s smartphone exports hit a historic high of $7.72 billion in the first quarter of FY26, marking a 58 percent year-on-year increase, with Apple emerging as the key growth driver. According to a report by Business Standard, the iPhone maker accounted for a staggering $6 billion (₹52,441 crores) in exports, contributing nearly 78 percent of India’s total smartphone shipments in the quarter—a sharp 82 percent jump from the same period last year.
These staggering numbers come amidst the tariff war with US President Donald Trump that recently introduced a 25 percent reciprocal tariff on goods imported from India.
Apple’s performance is not just a win for the company, but also a major boost for India’s electronics manufacturing ambitions, largely fueled by the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. The initiative, launched in 2020, has propelled India’s smartphone exports from $3.1 billion in FY21 to $24.1 billion in FY25, with Apple alone responsible for $17.5 billion of that growth.
However, clouds loom on the horizon. The US government’s ongoing review of Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, which allows the President to impose tariffs on imports for national security reasons, could pose risks to Apple's export strategy. A final report is expected by August 14, and any shift in US trade policy could impact Apple’s production pipeline out of India.
In terms of global competitiveness, smartphones have now become India’s top export item by HS code, rising dramatically from 167th place in FY15. While Apple leads the pack, Samsung contributed 12 percent to the Q1 FY26 export figures, and Padget Electronics (a subsidiary of Dixon Technologies) added another $175 million, making up part of the remaining 10 percent.
With India already surpassing $7.7 billion in exports in just one quarter, the country is poised for a record-breaking annual performance—one increasingly defined by Apple’s expanding footprint and India’s role as a global smartphone manufacturing hub.
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