Not just Apple iPhones! Android smartphone makers like Samsung, Motorola step up exports from India to US; move due to Trump's tariff policies
It seems that Donald Trump administration's tariff policies are promoting not just Apple but other global smartphone makers as well to export from India to the US. Android phone exports from India to the US are experiencing substantial growth, alongside Apple's iPhones, influenced by both US tariff regulations and India's initiatives to boost exports.
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In the Indian smartphone manufacturing sector, whilst Samsung and Motorola have enhanced their export operations to the United States and other international markets, Apple maintains its position as the dominant smartphone exporter, particularly in shipments to the US market from India.
Surge in Android smartphone exports from India to US
Data from market research firm Canalys quoted in an ET report shows that Motorola, owned by Lenovo, exported 1.6 million Android smartphones from India during the initial five months of 2025, with the US receiving 99% of these shipments. This marks an increase from 1 million units in 2024.
Industry experts note that Motorola, which partners with Indian manufacturer Dixon Technologies, previously relied predominantly on China for US market supply.
China now faces a 55% US tariff since April, whilst India incurs 26%. Although smartphones are temporarily exempt from these reciprocal tariffs, the US policy outlook remains uncertain.
According to Canalys data in the financial daily's report, Samsung, another significant exporter of smartphones from India to the US, delivered 945,000 units between January and May, up from 645,000 in the previous 12 months.
The US imposes a 46% tariff on Vietnam, Samsung's primary export base for American markets. These tariffs are currently suspended for 90 days whilst Vietnam engages in trade negotiations.
Dixon Technologies' Managing Director Atul Lall announced during a recent earnings call that they are boosting their production capacity by 50% above existing levels for Motorola, their key client.
This expansion primarily aims to fulfil increased export demands to North America, particularly the United States, considering the current geopolitical landscape.
Smartphone exports from India
India's PLI Push Bears Fruit
Driven by the government's PLI scheme aimed at establishing India as a global manufacturing hub, smartphone manufacturers are increasing their exports to African nations and the UAE. Companies like Dixon, Samsung, and Apple's partners Foxconn and Tata Electronics benefit from these incentives.
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Data from Canalys shows that India's smartphone exports reached 35 million units during January-May, with Apple contributing 20.5 million units. The United States received 80% of Apple's exported devices.
In 2024, total smartphone exports amounted to 60 million units, with Apple responsible for 50% of the volume. Other significant exporters included Samsung and Motorola.
Industry analysts note that manufacturers including Samsung, Motorola, Transsion, and HMD Global (Nokia's manufacturer) are expanding their export operations from India.
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The PLI scheme has enhanced their global cost competitiveness, enabling them to export to markets with sufficient capacity.
According to Canalys, Samsung's production, both in-house and through Dixon, is likely to achieve or surpass its 2024 export figures, having reached nearly half its target by May 2025. The company's exports totalled 25.3 million smartphones in 2024, with 11.4 million units already exported by May 2025.
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Samsung maintains its export leadership among Android manufacturers, though its growth has plateaued due to shifting market destinations influenced by tariff uncertainties, according to Canalys analyst Sanyam Chaurasia. "Motorola is emerging as a surprise mover, nearly doubling its US-bound exports."
The Transsion group's brands - Infinix, Tecno and iTel - have increased their export activities.
Dixon secured a controlling interest in Transsion's manufacturing operations in May 2023.
Dixon's Lall indicated strong export commitments to African markets, where Transsion commands over 80% market share. The company is exploring possibilities to export Google Pixel phones manufactured at their Indian facilities.
Vivo, the leading smartphone brand in India's market and of Chinese origin, has begun modest export operations from India. The company shipped approximately 350,000 devices in 2024, with 250,000 units already exported until May this year, primarily to Thailand and Malaysia.
Following its strategic manufacturing collaboration with Dixon and relocation to larger production facilities, Vivo is expected to enhance its export volumes starting this year.
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Fibre2Fashion
29 minutes ago
- Fibre2Fashion
Dibyanshu Tripathi CEO and Co-founder
Our team understands the nuances of textile classification In a global trade environment where complexity often outweighs clarity, Hexalog is emerging as a transformative force. Founded in February 2024 and headquartered in Gurugram, Hexalog is a digital-first, full-stack EXIM enabler that aims to streamline international logistics through tech-driven services and intelligent supply chain orchestration. Built by co-founders Dibyanshu Tripathi, Utkarsh Tripathi, and Vineet Malik, the company offers a unified platform integrating Customs Clearance as a Service (CaaS) and Freight Forwarding as a Service (FFaaS) alongside warehousing, multimodal freight, and last-mile delivery solutions. Hexalog's AI-led orchestration model is redefining how businesses manage their cross-border operations—offering visibility, compliance, and efficiency at every stage. In this exclusive interaction with Fibre2Fashion, CEO and Co-founder Dibyanshu Tripathi delves into the genesis of Hexalog, the innovation behind its unified logistics experience, its commitment to compliance in the textile sector, and the company's ambitious roadmap across Asia and the Middle East. What are some of the biggest compliance challenges that textile exporters face when entering new international markets? The biggest challenge that Indian textile exporters face when entering new international markets revolves around the hefty and complex set of compliance requirements necessary for market entry. These include country-specific labelling regulations—such as labels in multiple languages, details regarding fabric composition, care instructions, and country of origin. Some countries enforce strict rules concerning the chemicals used in textile production, requiring products to be free from harmful substances and compliant with environmental safety standards. 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Continuous monitoring and adaptability are key to remaining compliant and competitive. How is digital transformation reshaping global supply chains, especially in the context of export-import (EXIM) trade? Digital transformation is fundamentally redefining global supply chains by bringing much-needed transparency, speed, and resilience—especially in the EXIM trade landscape, which has long been burdened by fragmentation and paperwork-heavy processes. Technologies like AI, API-driven integrations, real-time tracking, digital customs clearance, and compliance automation are reducing manual dependencies and improving decision-making across borders. Businesses now have end-to-end visibility, enabling them to proactively manage risks, reduce transit delays, and respond quickly to market demands. For emerging markets like India, digital platforms are acting as equalisers—allowing even MSMEs to participate in global trade by offering plug-and-play logistics, automated documentation, and cost-effective multi-modal options. The shift is also pushing traditional stakeholders—freight forwarders, customs brokers, and carriers—to modernise and collaborate via digital ecosystems. Digital transformation is not just optimising logistics—it is creating a new standard of trade where efficiency, compliance, and scalability are built into the foundation of every cross-border transaction. How important is multimodal logistics infrastructure in supporting agile and responsive cross-border trade operations? In an era where global supply chains are expected to move faster and with more precision than ever before, the role of multimodal logistics has become foundational to cross-border trade. By combining different modes of transportation—road, rail, air, and sea—under one coordinated network, businesses gain a sharper edge in handling international shipments with greater speed, flexibility, and clarity. One of the core strengths of multimodal logistics lies in its ability to simplify movement across borders. With a single set of documentation covering the entire journey, it minimises delays related to customs and compliance, reducing friction in high-volume trade environments. For businesses, this translates to more predictable delivery timelines and fewer procedural hurdles. From a performance standpoint, multimodal setups have shown a clear ability to enhance service levels. Companies report significant improvements in meeting order deadlines, responding to urgent demand shifts, and maintaining product availability across markets—all key drivers of a positive customer experience. Another critical advantage is the cost optimisation it offers. 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India's economic upswing, backed by strong foreign investment and rising export volumes, is playing a pivotal role in creating and redefining trade routes in the region. This momentum is pushing logistics players to move beyond traditional lanes and explore untapped markets like Vietnam, Thailand, and the broader Middle East-Asia belt. As a response, freight forwarders are reconfiguring their networks to build agile, responsive supply chains that can cater to the dynamic demand patterns of these regions. Strengthening local supplier relationships, establishing regional warehousing hubs, and aligning with country-specific regulatory frameworks have become core to their strategy. For EXIM service providers, this shift also presents an opportunity to offer more integrated and customised solutions—bridging gaps between exporters and emerging markets with greater efficiency and visibility. The focus is now on building ecosystem partnerships that not only enable smoother trade flows but also support India's broader export ambitions across Asia. In essence, the rise of new trade lanes is not just changing where business is done, but also how it is done—demanding more localised, tech-enabled, and partnership-driven approaches across the board. What inspired the launch of Hexalog, and how are you reimagining logistics for EXIM trade through your unified experience framework? Hexalog was not born out of a traditional 'eureka' moment, but rather as a discovery that emerged organically. While my co-founders and I were deep in discussions around a broader business idea in the trade and logistics domain, we began drafting a white paper to validate our hypothesis. That is when we uncovered a significant and persistent gap in the cross-border supply chain landscape—particularly in EXIM logistics, which remains highly fragmented and digitally underpenetrated. This realisation shifted our direction entirely. As we dug deeper, it became clear that the inefficiencies and lack of unified experiences in this space were not only real but also presented a massive opportunity to build something meaningful. That is how Hexalog was born—out of an intent to solve a genuine problem rather than force-fit an idea. At Hexalog, we are building a unified experience framework that blends digital-first tools with deep logistics expertise—offering seamless, end-to-end solutions for global trade. From digital customs clearance to multimodal freight aggregation, we are creating a platform where transparency, efficiency, and simplicity are at the core—empowering businesses of all sizes to move goods across borders without the usual friction. Could you explain the Hexa-Service Model and how it is helping brands streamline logistics by offering an entire spectrum of services under one digital platform? The Hexa-Service Model is Hexalog's AI-led 4PL orchestration framework designed to simplify cross-border logistics by offering a full-stack solution through a single digital platform. It enables end-to-end management of the supply chain—including first mile and last mile integration, customs clearance, freight forwarding, workflow automation, compliance management, and value-added services at both origin and destination. Using our Origin × Destination Dynamic Routing (OXD Framework), we intelligently assign service providers based on the specific lane and cargo type, making our solution truly plug-and-play across any global trade route connected by sea or air. This unified approach helps brands eliminate fragmentation, improve visibility, and scale efficiently—whether they are navigating exports, imports, or global e-commerce fulfilment—all while managing everything through one seamless platform. How does Hexalog ensure smart compliance in international textile trade, especially when it comes to documentation accuracy and risk mitigation? At Hexalog, ensuring compliance in international textile trade starts with deep domain expertise and a hands-on, detail-oriented approach. We rely on our highly trained and experienced team members who understand the nuances of textile classification, export-import documentation, and the regulatory frameworks of multiple countries. Textile shipments often come with layered requirements—such as fibre composition disclosures, country-of-origin declarations, trade agreement qualifications, and restricted material screenings. Our team meticulously reviews all documentation, ensuring accuracy in tariff codes, valuations, and product descriptions before customs submission. To mitigate compliance-related risks, we conduct pre-shipment audits and maintain close coordination with suppliers and buyers, eliminating potential discrepancies that could lead to shipment holds or penalties. Our proactive communication with port authorities and regulatory agencies further helps in addressing issues before they escalate. We also keep a constant eye on evolving trade regulations and documentation standards in key textile markets. This allows us to quickly adapt our practices and advise our clients accordingly, ensuring they stay compliant and confident in every shipment. By combining regulatory knowledge with operational diligence, Hexalog provides a trusted compliance backbone that supports seamless textile trade across borders. How is predictive analytics used within your platform to manage seasonal demand patterns, especially in fast fashion and home furnishings? In the world of EXIM trade, shipment predictability is fundamental—not just for operational planning, but for sustaining customer satisfaction. Seasonal surges such as Black Friday, Diwali, or end-of-year clearance periods often expose vulnerabilities in global supply chains. Common disruptions include surging freight rates, overbooked vessels, port congestion, and delayed customs clearances—all of which can result in stockouts, SLA breaches, and customer dissatisfaction, especially in time-sensitive sectors like apparel and furniture. As a 4PL logistics partner, Hexalog plays a critical role in helping clients navigate these peaks. We are developing a model which will leverage predictive analytics and early warning systems, to provide actionable insights into potential disruptions well in advance. This includes forecasting freight rate trends, alerting clients to space constraints, and tracking congestion at key global ports. These insights will empower businesses to plan procurement cycles, inventory allocation, and shipment scheduling with greater precision. Take the example of the Black Friday sale, where demand spikes drastically in Western markets. Retailers depending on delayed bookings or ad-hoc freight planning often face delivery delays, missed sales windows, and reputational setbacks. At Hexalog, our proactive approach will ensure that clients—especially those in high-turnover verticals like fashion and furniture—are equipped with data-backed foresight to avoid last-minute panic and maintain service consistency. What operational benefits have your clients observed through Hexalog's integrated value-added services (VAS) like warehousing and last-mile delivery? The main operational benefits of our integrated VAS are increased efficiency, cost savings, and enhanced customer satisfaction. In the current market scenario for e-commerce businesses, the market is very competitive, and it is the finer details that makes them stand out in their field. Having a 4PL partner offering value-added services helps businesses streamline their operations, allowing them to focus on core competencies without being burdened by operational challenges. Instead of constantly firefighting, companies gain valuable resources like time and staff to concentrate on innovation and maintaining competitiveness. With our end-to-end services, the customers have found a one-stop shop for their entire inventory management and order fulfilment flow, which has proven to improve communication and efficiency, while reducing the number of partners that their customers must be handed over to. Additionally, many new services were open to our customers that their current resources, staff and infrastructure could not support. With our expertise help in custom clearance, import/export regulations and security protocols, our customers have been compliant with the relevant laws and regulations and have done their business with ease reducing their labour costs, overhead expenses, and other miscellaneous costs. What has been your approach to building trust with sector-specific clients like Urbanic and Home Essentials, and what unique needs do these partnerships reveal? Building trust with clients in niche sectors such as fashion and home lifestyle begins with genuinely listening to their needs. In our experience, a customer's voice—whether it is feedback, concerns, or operational challenges—is the most reliable guide in shaping a successful partnership. Our approach has consistently been customer-centric, rooted in understanding the unique nuances of each brand's supply chain. With clients like Urbanic and Home Essentials, we do not apply a one-size-fits-all solution. 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Success in cross-border trade is not just about logistics efficiency; it is about understanding how people do business, what they value, and how trust is built locally. We have found that investing time in understanding regional practices, aligning with local expectations, and forging strong supplier partnerships has a direct impact on the success of trade operations. These close-knit relationships help streamline communication, reduce friction, and increase reliability—especially when navigating regulatory environments or fluctuating demand cycles. As we expand into new geographies, this localised, partnership-driven approach remains central to our strategy. We do not believe in standardising markets; we believe in customising our operations to suit them. By adapting to the unique trade patterns and cultural nuances of each region, we not only build stronger relationships but also eliminate the uncertainty that often arises when dealing with foreign entities. Replicating our success in other regions means staying agile, being culturally attuned, and prioritising collaboration over transaction. That is how we turn new markets into sustainable trade lanes. Looking ahead to your planned expansions into Vietnam, Thailand, and the Middle East, what markets or trade behaviours are shaping your roadmap? With our deep-rooted expertise in the Indian trade ecosystem, our expansion into key lanes across Asia and the Middle East is a natural extension of our vision to support India's rising export momentum. The evolving geopolitical landscape, combined with India's accelerating economic growth, is paving the way for stronger trade ties with emerging markets like Vietnam, Thailand, and strategic partners in the Middle East. What shapes our roadmap most is the increasing regional demand for Indian goods and the shift towards diversified sourcing and distribution networks. These markets are not just growing—they are becoming more integrated with India through favourable trade agreements, improving infrastructure, and a mutual push towards supply chain resilience. Our approach remains grounded in leveraging regional knowledge, building local partnerships, and offering tailored logistics solutions that suit the specific trade behaviours of each region. Whether it is the speed-driven retail demand in the Gulf or the manufacturing-linked supply flows in Southeast Asia, our goal is to enable seamless, end-to-end cross-border connectivity that aligns with India's export ambitions. In essence, our expansion is driven by a commitment to empowering Indian exporters with efficient access to high-potential markets, while navigating them through the complexities of regional trade with agility and insight. DISCLAIMER: All views and opinions expressed in this column are solely of the interviewee, and they do not reflect in any way the opinion of
Hindustan Times
33 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
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Time of India
40 minutes ago
- Time of India
Four companies to get 190 crore incentives
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