The export growth rate of India’s smartphones reached an all-time high during the April-June quarter of 2023 (Q1FY26), with exports crossing $7.72 billion, a 58 percent increase from $4.9 billion in the prior year, as per the latest statistics.
Reports also reveal that during this quarter, Apple Inc. exported $6 billion worth of iPhones through contract manufacturers, which is an 82 percent growth from the previous year.
This quarter is not only notable as Apple’s peak period, but also marks the highest quarterly export figure of smartphones from India. Apple alone contributed to almost 78 percent of the total smartphone exports during the quarter.
The rise is attributed to the increased local manufacturing from the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme introduced in 2020, as per the reports.
India had only exported $3.1 billion worth of smartphones in FY21, which increased to $24.1 billion by FY25, with Apple responsible for $17.5 billion of that figure.
From Rank 167 to #1
India’s total electronics exports in Q1FY26 also included $12.4 billion, a 48 percent YoY increase. As of the previous year’s quarter, smartphone exports had contributed 58 percent of this figure, which has now grown to 62 percent, showcasing a shift from mere assembly to the more sophisticated electronics manufacturing, as reported.
Remarkably, smartphones — ranked 167th in India’s export list in FY15 — have now become India’s top export item by HS code in FY25, underscoring the country’s rise as a global electronics manufacturing hub.
