Apple transported 1.5 million iPhones to the United States on a charter flight to avoid tariffs, Reuters reported on the 10th. Apple has mobilized six cargo planes capable of transporting 100 tons of cargo since March, and one is reported to have departed for India this week.
Considering the iPhone 14 and a charging cable set weighing 350 grams, Reuters analyzed that approximately 1.5 million units were transported by a 600 ton cargo plane.
Apple requested to shorten the customs clearance time at Chennai Airport in Tamil Nadu, India, from 30 hours to 6 hours in order to quickly export iPhones produced in India to the United States. Additionally, the Foxconn factory located in Chennai operated production by deploying extra personnel even on Sundays. This was a strategy to send as many iPhones to the United States as possible before tariffs were imposed.
Apple is likely to reduce iPhone production in China and increase production in India in the future. Compared to the maximum tariff of 125% imposed on China, India's tariff is much lower at 26%, and there is a possibility of lower tariff rates as the United States and India are in trade negotiations. According to Counterpoint Research, Apple sells over 220 million iPhones worldwide each year, approximately 20% of which are produced in India, while the remaining 80% comes from China.
Currently, there are three iPhone production plants operated by Foxconn and Tata in India, with two additional plants under construction.