How Tata and Foxconn helped Apple avoid US tariffs with record $2 bn iPhone shipments in March

Apple Inc. airlifted iPhones worth nearly $2 billion from India to the United States in March as the company moved swiftly to avoid impending tariffs under President Donald Trump’s administration, reported Reuters, citing customs data.

The US tech giant's main Indian suppliers, Foxconn and Tata Electronics, ramped up production and utilised chartered cargo flights to ship around 600 tonnes of iPhones from Chennai to key American cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York, according to the report.

Foxconn shipped iPhones valued at $1.31 billion in March alone, equal to its combined shipments in January and February, while Tata’s March exports stood at $612 million, up 63% from February.

The exports included Apple’s iPhone 13, 14, 15, 16, and 16e models. Foxconn’s cumulative exports to the US from India in 2025 now stand at $5.3 billion.

Apple lobbied Indian airport authorities to accelerate customs clearance at Chennai Airport, cutting processing times from 30 hours to just six. At least six dedicated cargo jets were used in the operation to “beat the tariffs.”

Apple’s aggressive shipment strategy came amid mounting concerns over a new wave of US import duties. In April, the Trump administration imposed a 26% tariff on goods from India, compared to over 100% on Chinese imports. However, late last week, the White House announced temporary exemptions on smartphones, computers, and chips, bringing some relief to Apple and other electronics makers.

President Trump, speaking to reporters on Monday, said: “I speak to Tim Cook. I helped Tim Cook, recently, and that whole business... the end result is we’re going to get to the position of greatness for our country.”

Apple shares rose over 2% on Monday, pushing the iPhone maker’s market capitalisation back above $3 trillion. Despite recent gains, the stock remains down nearly 9% in April, following an 8% drop in March, marking its worst quarterly performance since 2023.

Morgan Stanley analysts estimated that Apple’s potential tariff burden has now been reduced to $7 billion annually, down from $44 billion before the exemptions were announced.