Apple CEO highlights India’s rising role in global supply chain shift

New Delhi, August 2, 2025: A growing share of iPhones sold in the US now come from India.Apple CEO Tim Cook confirmed this during the company’s Q3 earnings call. He said India has become a major production hub. Most US-sold iPhones no longer come from China.

Cook’s statement comes amid a larger global supply chain realignment. Multinational electronics firms are increasingly shifting operations to India, Vietnam, and other Asian economies to reduce overdependence on China. Apple’s push in India is part of that strategy, and Cook noted that the results have been promising. “We’re producing more in India than ever before,” he said. “Most of the iPhones sold in the US are now made in India,” he added.

The CEO praised India’s fast-growing infrastructure, stable policy framework, and skilled labor as key enablers of this shift. Apple has been expanding its contract manufacturing operations through partners like Foxconn and Pegatron in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. India now begins production of the latest iPhones almost alongside China, sharply reducing the delivery gap.

In addition to manufacturing, Cook said India is playing a growing role in software development and support services for Apple. The company is also opening more Apple retail stores and expanding its online ecosystem in the country. “India is a very important market for us, both as a production base and a consumer market,” he emphasized.

Apple’s India revenue has surged recently, driven by demand for premium smartphones. Young professionals and urban consumers lead this trend. Analysts expect even faster growth next year as local assembly cuts costs and boosts availability. The Indian government’s production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes have further accelerated this trend by rewarding domestic value addition.

Cook’s remarks also reflect a broader tech industry pivot. Rising US-China tensions are pushing tech giants to spread operations across more countries. Global OEMs closely watch Apple’s shift to India as a benchmark for their future decisions.

India’s smartphone exports hit record highs in 2024–25. iPhones alone brought in over $12 billion last year. Experts believe India could soon emerge as Apple’s second-largest manufacturing base after China if this momentum continues.

Meanwhile, Apple continues to work on increasing domestic sourcing of components in India. Cook expressed confidence that deeper integration with local suppliers will boost efficiency and help Apple meet its carbon neutrality goals. “We’re committed to building long-term capability in India,” he said, expressing optimism about Apple’s future there.

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