Nabil Luqman

0f9d2dd4f71434084e2b6094de1865e23abb37bb9f28ca51feeabee679ec9be2

Social

India

China

Apple

iPhone

Donald Trump

tariff

trade war

manufacturing

Apple has quietly undertaken a major logistical operation, airlifting up to 1.5 million iPhones from India to the United States in an urgent effort to dodge a dramatic hike in import tariffs. The move comes amid escalating tensions between the US and China, triggered by former President Donald Trump&rsquo;s sweeping tariff measures under his self-proclaimed &ldquo;Liberation Day&rdquo; trade initiative.
Under Trump&rsquo;s latest trade policy shift, Chinese imports into the US &mdash; including Apple&rsquo;s flagship product &mdash; now face tariffs of up to 125%, with threats of a further increase to 145%. This is a critical blow to companies like Apple, which still manufacture the vast majority of their iPhones in China. In retaliation, China has imposed an 84% tariff on American goods, fuelling a worsening trade war that has spooked global markets and left tech firms scrambling to adapt.
Six Cargo Flights, 600 Tonnes, 1.5 Million Devices
<img src="https://r2.myc.my/0091724b47ef9b9e1de2270e40a513bcfe19eee16203df88c59f2b41bbeed118" />
To avoid being caught by the tariff deadline, Apple chartered at least six cargo planes, each reportedly carrying up to 100 tonnes of iPhones, from its Indian manufacturing hubs to the US. The total weight of the cargo &mdash; around 600 tonnes &mdash; translates to an estimated 1.5 million iPhones once packaging is taken into account.
The scale of the operation is enormous, not only in terms of volume but also in the urgency with which it was carried out. A source familiar with Apple&rsquo;s plans told Reuters that the company successfully lobbied Indian airport authorities to slash the customs clearance time at Chennai Airport from 30 hours to just six &mdash; a vital move to get the devices airborne as quickly as possible.
India Becomes Apple&rsquo;s Strategic Manufacturing Backup
<img src="https://r2.myc.my/f8e54b51dfab91b56575983c4ff9815a4f80435cabc51ac7d3266ecd48928b66" />
Apple&rsquo;s heavy reliance on Chinese manufacturing &mdash; with roughly 80% of its iPhones assembled there &mdash; has long been a potential vulnerability. However, in recent years, the company has been steadily diversifying its supply chain, and the current trade crisis has accelerated that strategy.
India, where about one in ten iPhones are currently made, has become a critical alternative. Trump had originally set a 26% tariff rate for Indian imports, but following market backlash and international pressure, he announced a 90-day moratorium on those increases &mdash; though China was notably excluded. During this window, Indian goods entering the US are subject to a reduced tariff of just 10%, making India a far more cost-effective export base than China.
Apple, seeking to capitalise on this temporary opening, has begun ramping up production at its Chennai-based Foxconn facility, even extending operations to Sundays &mdash; typically a non-working day &mdash; to meet demand. Two sources confirmed that Apple&rsquo;s factories in India are currently operating under intensified schedules to fulfil shipment targets.
Surge in Production and Long-Term Shifts 
&nbsp;<img src="https://r2.myc.my/d0ef30ac73834fefbe9f1da8fbeca81253c6a4df8caed0e1d2dc69a20f90da53" />
Apple has reportedly set a goal to increase Indian iPhone production by 20% this year. This includes hiring more workers, expanding production shifts, and working closely with suppliers to streamline output. The Foxconn plant in Chennai alone produced around 20 million iPhones last year, including the latest iPhone 15 and 16 models.
The company currently operates three manufacturing sites in India through its partners Foxconn and Tata, with two more under development. These efforts are not just about avoiding immediate tariffs, but part of a broader, long-term strategy to diversify manufacturing away from China &mdash; a shift accelerated by geopolitical instability, pandemic disruptions, and rising labour costs.
If Apple were to divert all Indian-made iPhones to the US market, analysts suggest it could meet around half of American demand this year. Still, India alone cannot yet replace China&rsquo;s manufacturing capacity, and Apple remains caught between two economic superpowers locked in a trade standoff.
iPhone Prices Could Skyrocket if Tariffs Persist 
&nbsp;<img src="https://r2.myc.my/f4ee8bf4730e8eef47dbbe17a99c4fff17a4d9a6f3f93c9ab838214b09323554" />
While Apple&rsquo;s current workaround might temporarily shield US consumers, the long-term implications remain concerning. Analysts warn that if the tariffs continue &mdash; or worse, intensify &mdash; the cost of iPhones could skyrocket.
Investment bank UBS estimates that the price of an iPhone 16 Pro Max with 256GB of storage could surge from $1,199 (~RM 5,299) to nearly $2,000 (~RM 8,840) in the US if Apple passes on the full burden of the tariff costs to consumers.
Even more extreme projections come from Wedbush Securities, which warned that manufacturing iPhones in the United States would be so costly &mdash; due to labour and operational expenses &mdash; that a domestically made iPhone could retail for as much as $3,500 (~RM 15,470) . &ldquo;If consumers want a $3,500 iPhone, we should make them in New Jersey or Texas,&rdquo; said Dan Ives, a Wedbush analyst, in a recent investor note.
Apple Not Alone in Beating the Tariff Clock
&nbsp;<img src="https://r2.myc.my/3af392a1a91c364b82e4fe067e71cd5e3270688c062a7485cfbae4f07633071c" />
Apple isn&rsquo;t the only company making emergency moves to beat the tariff deadlines. German automaker Porsche told analysts it had front-loaded US inventory to avoid tariff costs, a decision which may temporarily impact its quarterly results. Ferrari, meanwhile, has already announced a 10% increase in its US prices to offset new duties.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk &mdash; a vocal Trump supporter and current head of the Department of Government Efficiency &mdash; also weighed in. After taking a substantial financial hit due to the stock market&rsquo;s reaction to the tariffs, Musk reportedly urged Trump to reconsider the policy. He later called for a global move towards zero-tariff trade and took aim at Trump&rsquo;s trade adviser Peter Navarro on social media.
Global Supply Chains at a Crossroads
Apple&rsquo;s response to the trade fallout underscores the broader fragility of global supply chains in a highly politicised economic landscape. While its swift airlifts and strategic lobbying have helped soften the initial blow, the company's long-term success may hinge on how well it adapts to a world where geopolitical manoeuvres can upend logistics overnight.
With the future of the 90-day tariff pause uncertain &mdash; and China signalling it has little appetite for negotiation &mdash; Apple&rsquo;s bet on India could mark the beginning of a major manufacturing migration. For now, the company is playing a high-stakes game of global logistics chess, with billions of dollars and millions of devices in the balance.
&nbsp;
*Sources: Visual and Reference Credits to Social Media &amp; various cross-references for context.
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Tech giant responds to escalating trade war between US and China. 

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Apple Races Against Time To Avoid Trump’s Tariffs By Airlifting iPhones From India

Apple Races Against Time To Avoid Trump’s Tariffs By Airlifting iPhones From India

Tech giant responds to escalating trade war between US and China.

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