India’s smartphone export story just hit a new high! In October 2025 alone, India shipped smartphones worth $2.4 billion (₹21,274 crore), the highest ever monthly figure. That’s a big jump from $2 billion (₹17,728 crore) recorded in October last year, according to Business Standard. After a slight dip during the festive months of August and September, when more phones are sold locally, exports bounced back stronger than ever. Exports up nearly 50% in 7 months From April to October 2025, India exported smartphones worth $16 billion (₹1.41 lakh crore), a 50% rise from the same period last year ($10.6 billion or ₹93,958 crore). To put that in perspective, India has already surpassed its entire export total for 2023–24, which was $15.5 billion (₹1.37 lakh crore), and there are still five months left in the financial year. Apple’s partners drive the boom Nearly 75% of India’s smartphone exports came from Apple’s manufacturing partners, Foxconn and Tata Electronics, both of which run major plants in India.
Samsung contributed around 14%, while Indian companies like Padget Technologies and smaller exporters made up the remaining 11%. Industry experts told Business Standard that Apple’s growing production base in India has turned the country into a major global hub for iPhone exports. Why August and September usually see a dip Typically, smartphone exports fall during August and September. That’s when global demand slows down before new model launches, while domestic demand spikes due to the Diwali season. But this year flipped the trend, exports rose 39% in August and almost doubled in September compared to last year. ICEA’s warning
Even as India celebrates its export success, the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) has raised a red flag. The group warned that the US decision to reduce tariffs on Chinese fentanyl imports from 20% to 10% (effective mid-November) could weaken India’s competitiveness in electronics manufacturing. The ICEA said: India already faces a 12–14% cost disadvantage compared to China, The Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, which helped offset this gap, is also ending soon; it expired for Samsung in March 2025 and will end for others by March 2026. From 167th to No. 1: India’s big leap Backed by the PLI scheme and Apple’s expanding manufacturing network, India has risen dramatically, from ranking 167th in global exports in 2014–15 to making smartphones its number one export category by 2024–25.
However, the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) has warned that this growth may not last without ongoing government support. The association cautioned: If India doesn’t take steps to narrow its manufacturing cost gap, the current export momentum could slow down. India’s smartphone export story is a mix of massive progress and growing pressure. With Apple and Tata leading the charge and Samsung close behind, India has proven it can compete with global manufacturing giants, but sustaining this growth will depend on smart policy moves in the years ahead.
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