In a high-speed logistics move, Apple flew five flights from India and China to the US in three days to avoid fresh tariffs
Apple undertook a rapid shipping operation during the final week of March, airlifting five full flights of iPhones and other products from India and China to the United States. The move was aimed at beating a new 10% reciprocal tariff imposed by US President Donald Trump’s administration, which came into effect on April 5, reported timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Apple races against time to stockpile iPhones in US before tariffs kick in
According to senior Indian officials, the company moved fast to cushion itself from the financial hit. Though late March is usually a slower period for shipping, Apple’s manufacturing centres in India and China ramped up exports in anticipation of the tariff hike. This urgent stockpiling will allow Apple to temporarily maintain current pricing in the US market, without immediately passing on costs to consumers.
The reserves shipped in before the tariff deadline are expected to insulate Apple from the impact of the new import duties, at least in the short term. With US warehouses now reportedly stocked for several months, Apple is closely monitoring how future shipments and tariff structures might affect pricing across global markets—including India.
India emerges as Apple’s most strategic manufacturing hub amid China tariff pressure
With Trump’s administration also announcing a steep 26% reciprocal tariff starting April 9, Apple is under pressure to reevaluate its global supply chain. India is becoming increasingly central to this strategy, particularly as exports from India to the US face significantly lower tariffs (26%) compared to China’s 54%. This 28-point advantage positions India as Apple’s most promising base for scaling iPhone and AirPods production.
Apple currently leads India’s smartphone exports, contributing a major portion of the country’s nearly $9 billion in smartphone shipments to the US. While long-term shifts will depend on evolving trade negotiations, analysts believe India will play a pivotal role in Apple’s supply chain diversification.
Meanwhile, American consumers are rushing to buy iPhones, anticipating significant price increases once the tariffs take full effect. Some reports suggest iPhones could cost as much as $3,500 if Apple cannot absorb the increased costs or shift manufacturing effectively.
