Apple is in a difficult position.

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - The number of iPhones shipped from India to the US in April increased by 76% compared to the same period last year. This sudden growth occurred as Apple accelerated its plan to "manufacture iPhones in India".

According to a report from Canalys, approximately 3 million iPhones were shipped from India to the US in April. Meanwhile, iPhone shipments from China to the US decreased by about 76% compared to the same period last year, falling to just 900,000 units.

Apple is stepping up its plans to manufacture iPhones in India (Photo: TheVerge).

According to Le Xuan Chiew, research director at Omdia, the April figures show the drastic measures Apple has taken to adapt to the tariffs Washington has imposed on China.

"For years, Apple has been planning and preparing for this situation. The company also invested heavily in its supply chain in India during the Covid-19 pandemic," shared an expert at Omdia.

It is estimated that India also surpassed China in iPhone exports to the US in March. According to Chiew, the unusually high shipment volume in April was due to Apple's stockpiling.

"India's manufacturing capacity is not expected to increase fast enough to meet all of the US demand," Chiew said.

Omdia estimates that US iPhone demand reaches approximately 20 million units per quarter. However, India is unlikely to reach that level until 2026.

Meanwhile, Daniel Newman, CEO and principal analyst at research firm Futurum Group, said the shipment numbers reflect the final assembly process, but do not represent the entire supply chain and manufacturing process.

"In fact, the company has had to work hard to move more and more assembly operations from China to India. However, the majority of its component partners are still in China," Newman said.

Analysts say India's ability to expand iPhone production capacity may be limited by protectionist measures from Washington and Beijing. According to Newman, Apple is playing a "dangerous game" with President Trump, as it has failed to meet the administration's tariff targets.

Apple's plans to manufacture iPhones in India are facing difficulties (Image: PCMag).

Recently, President Trump threatened to impose a 25% tariff on all iPhone shipments in a social media post. He reiterated his desire for iPhones sold in the US to be manufactured and assembled domestically, "not in India or anywhere else."

Meanwhile, China has also not facilitated Apple's diversification beyond the country. According to reports, Beijing has attempted to make it difficult for India to access high-tech machinery and talent from China.

Dan Ives, research director at Wedbush Securities, said Apple's plans in India will present some challenges related to logistics, distribution, and navigating a complex supply chain. However, India is still expected to be a "lifeline" for Apple in the current tariff situation.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/cong-nghe/apple-roi-vao-the-kho-20250528120513972.htm