Apple’s leading suppliers in India, Foxconn and Tata, sent nearly $ 2 billion on the United States in March, a historic record in a strategy of the US company to circumvent import fares announced in April by US President Donald Trump.
Apple has intensified production in India and chartered load flights to transport 600 tons of iPhones to the US to ensure sufficient stock in one of its largest markets due to the concern that Trump’s tariff chaos increases costs.
In April, the US government imposed 26% rates on India imports, much lower than the more than 100% China faced at the time.
Since then, Trump has suspended tariffs about most countries except China for three months.
Foxconn, Apple’s main supplier in India, exported smartphones worth $ 1.31 billion in March, the highest amount ever recorded in a single month and equal to January and February together, according to customs analyzed by Reuters.
Shipping included Apple iPhone 13, 14, 16 and 16E Apple models, and raised Foxconn’s total exports from India to the US this year to $ 5.3 billion.
Tata Electronics exports totaled US $ 612 million in March, about 63% above the previous month, and included the iPhone 15 and 16 models.
Apple, Foxconn and Tata did not comment on the subject.
Customs data showed that all Foxconn shipments to the US in March were made by air from the Chennai Air Cargo Terminal and landed in various locations, including Los Angeles and New York, with Chicago receiving most of the load.
Subsequently, Trump granted exclusions of smartphone tariffs and some other electronic products imported mainly from China, but then indicated that these exemptions will likely be short -lived, maintaining the uncertain scenario that has damaged US relationship with their business partners.
To speed up India’s remittances, Apple lobbyed Indian airport authorities to reduce the time required to release load at Tamil Nadu’s Chennai airport in the south of the country from 30 hours to six hours.
At least six freighters were used in the operation, which a source described as a way to “beat Trump’s tariffs”.
