Apple Inc. chartered cargo flights to airlift roughly 600 tons-or as many as 1.5 million-iPhones from India to the United States in a strategic move to preempt steep tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on Chinese imports, according to sources familiar with the operation.
The effort underscores Apple's growing reliance on India as a manufacturing hub amid intensifying U.S.-China trade tensions. Trump this week raised tariffs on Chinese goods to 125%, up from 104%, while leaving a 10% universal levy in place for other countries and pausing further increases for 90 days-excluding China. Imports from India currently face a 26% tariff, which is now on hold during the tariff pause.
Apple "wanted to beat the tariff," said one source familiar with the plan, which included lobbying Indian authorities to create a "green corridor" at Chennai International Airport to expedite customs clearance from 30 hours to just six.
The company chartered six 100-ton capacity jets starting in March, with the latest flight coinciding with the activation of the new tariffs. Calculations based on product weight suggest the shipments included about 1.5 million iPhones, primarily from Foxconn's facility in Chennai, where Apple has ramped up production of its latest iPhone 15 and 16 models.
The Chennai factory, which produced 20 million iPhones in 2023, now operates seven days a week, including Sundays-a traditional holiday-according to two additional sources. Apple's accelerated output marks a 20% increase over regular production levels and is part of a broader strategy to diversify its supply chain beyond China.
Foxconn and Tata, Apple's two main Indian suppliers, currently operate three factories, with two more under construction. Apple's planning for expedited air exports from India reportedly took about eight months, and the Indian government provided logistical support to facilitate the fast-tracked shipments.
Trade data shows a surge in iPhone exports from India. Foxconn's shipments to the U.S. jumped to $770 million in January and $643 million in February, up from a range of $110 million to $331 million in the preceding months. More than 85% of these shipments landed in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco.
Trump's tariff escalation prompted China to impose an 84% retaliatory levy on U.S. imports. Chinese officials blasted the U.S. action as a global economic threat. "This is a blatant act that goes against the will of the world and goes against the whole world," said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian on Thursday.
Commerce Ministry spokesperson He Yongqian added: "The door to dialogue is open, but it must be based on mutual respect and conducted in an equal manner. Pressure, threats, and blackmail are not the right approach."
Apple and India's aviation ministry declined to comment on the report. All sources cited anonymity due to the sensitive nature of internal discussions.
As Apple continues its efforts to reduce tariff exposure, the geopolitical backdrop remains fraught. China has vowed to "fight to the end" if the U.S. continues to escalate tariffs, while officials in Beijing warn that the levies "seriously impact the stability of the global economic order."
