India's Smartphone Exports Soar to Top Position in FY25: Ashwini Vaishnaw

Synopsis

In a remarkable achievement, smartphones have become India's top export category in FY25's first 10 months, a feat attributed to the government's PLI scheme, according to Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The sector's growth highlights India's manufacturing transformation and the vital role of local firms in global supply chains.

Key Takeaways

Smartphones are now India's largest export category.
Achieved through the PLI scheme and government-industry collaboration.
Exports reached a record Rs 2 lakh crore.
99% of smartphones sold in India are domestically manufactured.
Apple significantly contributes to India's smartphone exports.

New Delhi, April 17 (NationPress) In a groundbreaking milestone, smartphones have become India’s leading export category during the initial 10 months of FY25, showcasing a remarkable success story stemming from the government’s production-linked incentive (PLI) initiative, stated Union Minister for Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, on Thursday.

He attributed this accomplishment to the decade-long collaboration between the government and the industry, highlighting that in FY14, smartphones were ranked as India’s 167th export category, a stark contrast to their current top position.

“Smartphone PLI scheme reaches new heights: Smartphones emerged as India’s largest export in the first 10 months of FY25. In FY14, smartphone exports were ranked 167th. The transition to number 1 is the result of a 10-year partnership between the government and the industry,” he posted on the social media platform X.

The Union Minister also revealed that smartphone exports have reached a record Rs 2 lakh crore, emphasizing the transformative change in India's electronics manufacturing landscape.

Describing it as a record-setting occasion, Vaishnaw mentioned in his X post that this achievement signifies the advancement of global value chains (GVCs) within India and the increasing involvement of domestic firms in global supply chains.

The rapid growth of the smartphone sector has also created millions of new jobs, particularly for women, while expanding prospects for Indian MSMEs as the PLI scheme enhances local value addition.

Previous industry reports indicated that smartphone exports had already surpassed Rs 1.75 lakh crore between April 2024 and February 2025, driven by strong global demand and strategic changes from tech giants.

This growth is primarily attributed to the PLI scheme, which has empowered India to significantly boost its exports while drastically reducing reliance on imports.

Currently, approximately 99 percent of the smartphones sold in India are produced domestically.

Apple has emerged as the largest contributor to India’s smartphone exports, with iPhones making up nearly 70 percent of the total shipments.

Earlier reports suggested that the company’s key suppliers, Foxconn in Tamil Nadu and Tata Electronics through Wistron and Pegatron units, have been crucial in enhancing production.

Foxconn alone accounted for around 50 percent of the total exports, demonstrating a remarkable 40 percent year-on-year (YoY) growth.