Apple has emerged as the top smartphone exporter in India, with a 49% share of total shipments during the June quarter. This impressive shift showcases Apple’s significant growth in local manufacturing within the country. In just one year, Apple’s share of exports skyrocketed from a mere 9% to nearly half of all smartphone exports in Q2 2023. By comparison, India exported around 13 million smartphones in the previous March quarter, which slightly decreased to 12 million in Q2 2023
Apple’s remarkable performance in India since it commenced manufacturing in the country in 2017 has been driven by increased production by three of its contract manufacturers—Foxconn, Wistron, and Pegatron—starting in the second half of 2022, particularly for iPhone 14 and earlier models. The Indian government’s production-linked incentive program for smartphone manufacturing includes all three manufacturers. Foxconn has already initiated production of the latest iPhone 15 at its Chennai plant, with India-made units expected to be available for sale starting this Friday.
Samsung and other Android smartphone brands exporting from India have witnessed a significant decline in exports, attributed to a global downturn in demand, which has particularly affected Android smartphone brands. The first quarter of the calendar year aligns with the last quarter of the financial year, resulting in higher exports as brands strive to meet year-end targets for claiming incentives under the PLI scheme.
Samsung’s share of export volumes fell from 50% in Q1 2023 to 45% in Q2 2023, marking a stark decline from Q2 2022 when the South Korean company dominated with an 84% share of the export market from India. Other Android brands like Xiaomi, Motorola, Vivo, and Transsion have seen their exports decline from 10% in Q1 2023 to 6% in Q2 2023.
Market researcher Counterpoint Research predicts a 6% decline in global smartphone shipments in 2023 to 1.15 billion units, marking the lowest figures in a decade. However, Apple’s resilience in the premium market and strong performance in the US could propel it to become the top smartphone brand globally in terms of annual shipments, a first-time achievement.
