India’s Mobile Phone Exports Surpass ₹1.82 Lakh Crore Fueled by Govt Support

India’s mobile phone export industry has achieved a remarkable milestone, with exports crossing ₹1,82,448 crore (US$ 21 billion) in the first 11 months of FY25. This exceeds the forecast made by Union Minister for Railways, Information and Broadcasting, and Information Technology, Mr Ashwini Vaishnaw, who had estimated exports to reach ₹1,73,760 crore (US$ 20 billion) by the end of the financial year. With one month still to go, this marks an impressive 54% growth compared to the same period in FY24, according to the India Cellular & Electronics Association.

Apple’s Dominance and the Rise in Smartphone Exports

Independent reports suggest that Apple Inc. has played a major role in this growth, contributing around ₹1,25,000 crore (US$ 14.39 billion) to the total exports. Notably, iPhone exports have been responsible for nearly 70% of the total smartphone exports from India.

Q1 FY25 saw smartphone exports reach ₹42,137 crore (US$ 4.85 billion), reflecting a 30% increase from Q1 FY24. The first half of FY25 saw a similar trend, with exports totalling ₹72,979 crore (US$ 8.4 billion), marking a 30% rise from ₹56,472 crore (US$ 6.5 billion) in H1 FY24.

Q3FY25 was the most significant yet, with monthly exports surpassing ₹17,376 crore (US$ 2 billion), culminating in a total of ₹59,078 crore (US$ 6.8 billion) for the quarter. In the first two months of Q4 alone, another ₹48,653 crore (US$ 5.6 billion) was added to the total, taking the exports to an impressive ₹1,82,448 crore (US$ 21 billion).

Steady Growth in Monthly Exports

Since October 2024, India’s monthly mobile phone exports have consistently exceeded ₹17,376 crore (US$ 2 billion), a significant improvement from the peak of ₹14,248 crore (US$ 1.64 billion) in FY23 and ₹16,507 crore (US$ 1.9 billion) in FY24. The major contributors to this surge are Apple’s vendors, including Foxconn, Tata Electronics, and Pegatron, which together account for 70% of India’s mobile phone exports. Samsung and Indian brands contribute the remaining portion.

The United States and Europe continue to be vital markets for India’s mobile phone exports, with 50-55% of the exports heading to the US. In fact, smartphones have now surpassed non-industrial diamonds as India’s largest export to the US by Harmonised System classification.

Government Support and Future Prospects

The Indian government is actively exploring a production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme to encourage greater value addition in mobile phone manufacturing and to integrate more Indian micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) into global supply chains. This initiative is expected to further boost the export potential of India’s mobile phone sector, strengthening its position in the global market.

Conclusion

India’s growing mobile phone export sector highlights the country’s increasing prominence in the global electronics manufacturing landscape and underscores the critical role of companies like Apple and Samsung in this success. With continued government support and a strong export trajectory, India is poised to maintain this momentum well into the future.

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