Apple urgently transports 600 tons of iPhones from India to the US to avoid Trump’s tariffs
Apple has chartered cargo flights for urgent transportation of about 600 tons of iPhones (approximately 1.5 million devices) from India to the United States. The move is part of Apple’s private strategy to avoid higher tariffs imposed by Washington on imports from China. Tariffs on Chinese imports have reached 125%, compared to just 26% on India, and are currently suspended under a 90-day freeze that Trump announced this week. About this informs Reuters.
The company has sent a request to the Indian authorities to reduce the customs clearance time at Chennai airport from 30 to 6 hours. The goal is to create a so-called “green corridor” similar to the one Apple uses in some Chinese airports.
In recent days, six cargo planes, each with a carrying capacity of 100 tons, have left India. One of the flights was operated this week when the new fares came into effect. The iPhone 14 is estimated to weigh around 350 grams when fully assembled, so 600 tons is roughly 1.5 million devices including packaging weight.
According to Counterpoint Research estimates, Apple sells more than 220 million iPhones worldwide each year. Currently, about 20% of US imports come from India, the rest from China. To meet the target of a 20% increase in production, the company has expanded logistics and increased production activity at its Indian plants, including extending working days at Foxconn’s main plant in Chennai until Sunday.
Apple is actively expanding production outside of China, positioning India as a key region. Foxconn and Tata, Apple’s main partners in India, already have three plants, with two more under construction. According to a senior Indian official, the company spent about eight months planning and creating the fast-track customs corridor in Chennai. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, for its part, has mandated support for Apple’s initiative.
Foxconn’s exports from India to the US reached $770 million in January and $643 million in February, significantly higher than the previous four months ($110 million to $331 million). Most of the cargo was delivered to the airports of Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco.
