Record-Breaking Smartphone Exports from India
India has witnessed a remarkable surge in smartphone exports, largely driven by the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme. Over the 12 months from January to December 2025, exports are estimated to have reached $30 billion, representing 38% of the total exports from 2021 to 2025.
Export Growth and Figures
- Between 2021 and 2025, India's smartphone exports approached $80 billion, with the year 2025 achieving the highest export figures.
- In 2025 alone, exports rose by 47% over the $20.45 billion recorded in 2024.
- Apple's iPhone shipments constituted about 75% of these exports, valued at over $22 billion.
Impact of the PLI Scheme
- The smartphone PLI, among 14 introduced in 2020, is the most effective, greatly boosting exports.
- The initiative highlights the influence of global value chains, especially with Apple Inc bringing India into their supply network.
Historical Export Trends
- Mobile phones, once ranked 167th on India’s export list in 2015, now stand as the top exported product.
- Post-PLI rollout in 2021, exports were $4.85 billion, mainly by Samsung and local manufacturers.
- In 2022, as Apple factories became operational, exports nearly doubled to $9.43 billion.
- Growth continued into 2023, with a more than 51% year-on-year increase to $14.3 billion as all Apple facilities began production.
- In 2024, exports exceeded $20 billion for the first time at $20.45 billion.
Monthly Export Records
- March 2025 saw the highest monthly exports at $3.16 billion, surpassing January’s $2.92 billion record.
- In 2024, monthly exports surpassed $2 billion three times. In 2025, this threshold was crossed in 10 of 12 months, except August and September, with $1.52 billion and $1.68 billion, respectively.
