New Delhi: India’s smartphone exports touched $13.4 billion within the first half of FY26 (April to September), marking a 59 per cent bounce from $8.5 billion in the identical interval final yr, based on business. estimates. This development is primarily attributed to iPhone manufacturing underneath the PLI scheme — designed to offset India’s value disadvantages. Apple’s iPhone exports totaled roughly $10 billion, accounting for over 75 p.c of shipments within the first half of the yr.
In September alone, a threefold enhance in smartphone exports to the US pushed whole exports to $1.7 billion—the very best month-to-month development recorded up to now in comparison with FY25. The exports in September grew 87 per cent in comparison with $923 million exported in September 2024.
Additional smartphone exports to the US rose from $258 million in September final yr to a document $900 million final month, when the US accounted for 52.3 per cent of whole smartphone exports.
Based on a current assertion by the India Mobile and Electronics Affiliation, August and September are sometimes among the many lowest export months attributable to upcoming product launches and scheduled machine retrofits. Shoppers worldwide additionally maintain again purchases throughout this era, ready for brand spanking new fashions and subsequent reductions on older variations. Exports normally choose up once more by mid-October, the business physique stated.
The PLI scheme ends for Apple in March 2026 and has already ended for Samsung in FY25. Samsung’s smartphone exports fell in H1FY26 in comparison with the identical interval final yr.
Electronics, notably smartphones, have been a uncommon shiny spot for Indian exports this yr, regardless of headwinds from the US administration’s 50 per cent tariffs, which exclude smartphones.
In the meantime, Apple’s distributors proceed to increase their manufacturing footprint in India, with two new iPhone meeting vegetation not too long ago turning into operational. This has coincided with robust home gross sales of the brand new iPhone 17.
Nevertheless, business consultants warn that sustaining the present export surge will depend on coverage continuity, the end result of US–China commerce negotiations and tariff adjustments.