Apple Ships 1.5 Million iPhones from India Ahead of New Tariffs

Apple hired cargo aircraft to ship 600 tonnes of iPhones from India to the US to get ahead of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. Approximately 1.5 million iPhones were shipped as Apple seeks to build inventory in one of its biggest markets.

The company chartered about six cargo jets since March. Apple worked with Indian airport officials to cut the time to clear customs from 30 hours to six hours. Foxconn manufacturing plant in Chennai in the state of Tamil Nadu is now operating on Sundays, which is typically a day off for employees. Apple is making an effort to move more of the production of its devices out of China to countries such as India.

Trump’s threatened tariffs on Indian imports are on hold for about three months after the US president called a 90-day pause, but he has announced that tariffs on goods from China, where Apple assembles most of its iPhones, will be subject to a levy of at least 145%. India must still pay import taxes under Trump’s measures but at the reduced rate of 10%.