TAIPEI — Hon Hai Group, also known as Foxconn, has begun exporting components for Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 from mainland China to India, according to Indian media sources. The move highlights Apple’s continued efforts to diversify its supply chain and increase its manufacturing footprint in India.
Citing Indian customs data, The Economic Times reported that key iPhone components—such as display parts, protective glass, mechanical casings, and rear camera modules—have been shipped to India since June. These parts are believed to support trial production of the iPhone 17, slated for launch in September.
Industry experts noted that the volume of iPhone 17 components exported so far is relatively small, suggesting they are intended for initial trial production rather than full-scale assembly. Mass production is expected to begin in August, with simultaneous manufacturing planned in both China and India—a strategy Apple has been increasingly adopting in recent years.
In September, Hon Hai’s shipments of iPhone 17 parts to India accounted for approximately 10% of its total component exports. The majority were still components for older models such as the iPhone 14 and iPhone 16, which Apple anticipates will see strong demand during India’s peak festival season.
Apple’s evolving production strategy positions India as a key export hub, particularly for devices destined for the U.S. market. According to S&P Global Intelligence, iPhone exports from India to the United States surged by 219% year-on-year in March 2025.
India has also made significant progress in narrowing the production timeline gap with China. While the iPhone 14’s assembly began in India six weeks after it started in China in 2022, the iPhone 15 was manufactured almost simultaneously in both countries the following year. Apple integrated India into its New Product Introduction (NPI) process last year, breaking China’s longstanding exclusivity.
Despite these strides, the report highlighted potential challenges in India’s production expansion. Sources familiar with the situation indicated that restrictions on technology transfers from Chinese engineers could limit Indian factories’ ability to scale up iPhone 17 manufacturing rapidly.
As Apple continues to shift its global production strategy, India’s role in its supply chain is expected to grow—especially amid ongoing geopolitical and economic tensions between the U.S. and China.
