Smartphones emerge as India’s top export category

Smartphones have become India’s leading export category, with overseas shipments touching USD 30 billion in calendar year 2025, Union Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Wednesday.

Sharing the update on social media, the minister described India as fast “becoming the smartphone manufacturing factory for the world.” A graphic accompanying his post showed that exports between January and December 2025 reached USD 30 billion, marking a significant milestone for the country’s electronics sector.

India produced mobile phones worth Rs 5.5 lakh crore (around USD 60 billion) during the year. Of this, exports from the segment accounted for nearly Rs 2 lakh crore (about USD 22 billion) in FY 2024-25. Overall electronics exports have crossed Rs 4 lakh crore (USD 44 billion) in 2025 and are expected to rise further once four upcoming semiconductor plants commence production later this year.

Industry experts attribute much of the surge to global supply chain realignments and increasing participation by multinational brands. Neil Shah, Co-Founder and VP Research at Counterpoint, said that Apple Inc. has emerged as a “poster child” for India’s manufacturing push, significantly expanding local production following US tariffs on China. He noted that exports from India have reached record highs, driven by strong global demand.

According to Shah, India is set to manufacture nearly 30 crore mobile phone units in 2025, with roughly one in four smartphones produced in the country estimated to be exported. High average selling price (ASP) models, particularly those shipped to the premium US market, have boosted export values. Brands such as Samsung Electronics and Motorola Mobility have also contributed to export growth.

Data from International Data Corporation’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker for Q3 2025 showed that Apple recorded its highest-ever domestic quarterly supplies of 50 lakh iPhones. The company leads India’s premium (Rs 53,000–71,000) and super-premium (above Rs 71,000) segments, which powered smartphone market growth during the September quarter.