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Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Apple harvests record iPhone output from its India orchard
New Delhi: Apple achieved the fastest ramp-up in iPhone production and exports from India in the first half of 2025 ever since it started smartphone assembly in the country in 2017, in an attempt to diversify global production amid threat of higher US tariffs on Chinese imports. iPhone production surged 53% on-year during the January to June period, reaching 23.9 million units, according to market researcher Canalys. Volumes peaked in March when the company rushed to export the majority of India-made units to the US to avoid paying potential higher tariffs from April. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category PGDM Data Analytics others Finance MCA Product Management Operations Management Others Data Science Management MBA Artificial Intelligence Data Science Healthcare Design Thinking Leadership Digital Marketing Technology CXO Public Policy Cybersecurity healthcare Degree Project Management Skills you'll gain: Financial Analysis & Decision Making Quantitative & Analytical Skills Organizational Management & Leadership Innovation & Entrepreneurship Duration: 24 Months IMI Delhi Post Graduate Diploma in Management (Online) Starts on Sep 1, 2024 Get Details The Donald Trump administration later declared a 90-day pause on imposing reciprocal tariffs for most of its trading partners till July 9, which has since been extended to August 1. For India, the US has proposed a 26% tariff. Both countries are currently in talks to finalise a trade deal. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Join new Free to Play WWII MMO War Thunder War Thunder Play Now Undo Another research firm Cybermedia Research (CMR) said iPhone export volumes touched 22.88 million units in H1 2025, from 15.05 million a year earlier, a 52% increase. In value terms, Apple exported $22.56 billion worth of iPhones from India in H1 2025, compared to $14.71 billion a year earlier, CMR said. Live Events As per Canalys, iPhone production in the first half of this calendar year crossed 30 million units including exports and for the Indian market. Production is expected to cross 42 million units achieved in 2024 by this year-end, it said. PhillipCapital said iPhone overall production crossed '94,643 crore in H1 2025, as compared to '57,328 crore in H1 2024, and '1,38,200 crore in 2024. Production, after peaking in March ('19,630 crore), slowed to '11,267 crore, still higher than '9,808 crore achieved in June 2024. Government officials said Apple's growth also underpins enhanced domestic value addition, ranging from 15-20% depending on the iPhone model. "The sharp rise in iPhone exports in H1 2025 highlights India's rapid emergence as a leading global manufacturing and export hub for Apple. This double-digit growth in both volume and value is emblematic of the success of India's Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes and Apple's ongoing successful supply chain diversification," said Prabhu Ram, VP- Industry Research Group, CMR. Foxconn (Hon Hai) and Tata Electronics are the leading manufacturers of iPhones in India, after Tata Electronics took over operations of Wistron and Pegatron plants in the country. In H1 2025, Foxconn led with over half the volume of iPhone exports, but Tata Electronics is fast catching up, contributing 4 out of every 10 iPhones exported from India, Canalys said. "This shift reflects improving yield rates, line maturity, and Apple's growing confidence in India as a core manufacturing base," said Sanyam Chaurasia, analyst, Canalys. Apple is now planning to undertake simultaneous day-one manufacturing of the upcoming iPhone 17 in China and India, which is due for launch in September. ET reported July 12 that components for the iPhone 17, albeit in small quantities, have started arriving at the Foxconn plant in Tamil Nadu, indicating the start of trial production of the upcoming iPhones. "While not officially confirmed, the volume and type of these imports make it highly likely that trial production or early-stage assembly has commenced, months ahead of Apple's typical September launch window. This would mark a new benchmark with the earliest ever flagship ramp-up from India," Chaurasia said.
Indian Express
25-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
67% of Indian MSMEs show digital readiness, but gaps in skills and awareness remain: CMR study
Two out of three Indian micro, small, and medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are digitally equipped with many of them utilising enterprise tools and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance operational efficiency, according to a new study by CyberMedia Research (CMR). But while digital adoption is on the rise, challenges related to trust and reliability are slowing the pace of transformation for many businesses. The pan-India study, which surveyed over 400 MSMEs across sectors like manufacturing, education, retail, and IT services, found that 43 per cent of MSMEs were proficient in tools like Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and cloud computing, and 23 per cent already using advanced technologies such as AI. Despite these gains, many MSMEs remain cautious. The biggest barriers to adoption among growing businesses include a 'lack of clarity on the value and relevance' of digital tools (84 per cent), concerns over data security (81 per cent), and a lack of advanced digital skills (56 per cent). As digital choices become increasingly complex, a growing number of MSMEs are turning to advisory platforms for support. The study found that 62 per cent of MSMEs actively seek digital advisory guidance, often through MSME-centric online communities, professional forums, and peer networks. One standout in the digital advisory space is Vi Business' #ReadyForNext (RFN) program, which emerged as India's most widely recognised MSME-focused advisory platform, acknowledged by 57 per cent of surveyed businesses. Among those who used the RFN platform, more than 80 per cent reported digital fluency across both core and advanced tools, pointing to the platform's role in supporting digital upskilling. Businesses engaging with the RFN initiative reported measurable benefits: 62 per cent experienced improved business connectivity, 37 per cent saw faster decision-making enabled by real-time insights, 33 per cent reported growth in market reach or revenue, and 33 per cent achieved greater operational efficiency. User sentiment was also positive, with 64 per cent of MSMEs expressing overall satisfaction with the platform's services and 65 per cent indicating they would recommend it to their peers. 'India's digital momentum is being reshaped by a growing base of MSMEs adopting technology to drive competitiveness and innovation,' said Prabhu Ram, Vice President, Industry Research Group, CMR, in a statement. 'While the signs of digital maturity are promising, there remains a sizable segment that faces persistent barriers – especially around awareness, skills and cybersecurity,' Ram added. Ram added that initiatives like #ReadyForNext are increasingly being acknowledged for their role in guiding digital transformation journeys, especially for businesses unsure of how to evaluate or adopt emerging technologies.
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Digital Transformation of Indian MSMEs: 67% Now Equipped with Advanced Technologies, ET Manufacturing
Advt Advt Advt Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals. Subscribe to Newsletter to get latest insights & analysis in your inbox. Get updates on your preferred social platform Follow us for the latest news, insider access to events and more. The micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in India are increasingly leveraging technology to enhance business outcomes , with 67 per cent of them demonstrating digital readiness across core and advanced technologies, according to a report released on report by CyberMedia Research (CMR) reveals that two in three MSMEs in India are digitally equipped - ranging from core technologies like ERP, CRM, and cloud platforms to advanced technologies including AI, IoT, and data analytics."This signals a maturing digital ecosystem among Indian MSMEs ," the report 62 per cent of them actively seek digital advisory services - through MSME-focused online communities, forums, and professional networks, 43 per cent of MSMEs report proficiency in core digital tools, including cloud computing, ERP, and CRM 23 per cent have moved up the digital value chain, adopting more advanced technologies such as AI, IoT, and to the report, nearly 59 per cent rely on platforms like LinkedIn, X, and WhatsApp for business news, peer learning, and industry updates."India's digital momentum is being reshaped by a growing base of MSMEs adopting technology to drive competitiveness and innovation. While the signs of digital maturity are promising, there remains a sizeable segment that faces persistent barriers - especially around awareness, skills and cybersecurity," said Prabhu Ram, VP- Industry Research Group (IRG), are increasingly turning to structured, accessible trusted advisory platforms to bridge this gap, he per the study insights, 70 per cent of digitally aware MSMEs actively seek digital advisory are the key towards becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047, and it is the right time to speak about Industry and MSME collaboration to celebrate their contribution to India's in its aspiration, has been constantly growing, from being the 10th largest economy 10 years ago to currently the 4th largest economy. India has enormous potential with around 60 million enterprises.
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Foxconn looks to set up new Tamil Nadu unit to make iPhone enclosures
Taiwan's Foxconn is eyeing manufacturing iPhone enclosures in India and is looking at setting up a new unit within the ESR Industrial Park at Oragadam in Tamil Nadu for this purpose, people aware of the developments told ET. This would mark the Taiwanese contract manufacturer's foray into making enclosures in India, something that only Tata Electronics has been doing so far locally. Until now, Foxconn has focused on iPhone assemblies in India, harnessing its Sriperumbudur facility. ETtech by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: 1 simple trick to get all TV channels Techno Mag Learn More Undo However, the company is rapidly expanding the scope of work through its upcoming plant in Devanahalli, near Bengaluru. In addition to iPhone assembly, Foxconn also has a new unit in Hyderabad that is assembling AirPods. "Foxconn plans to start making enclosures in Tamil Nadu as they deepen their footprint in the country," one person cited above said. "Construction has begun for their enclosures unit at the industrial park. This will be a separate unit close to their upcoming display module assembly plant which is in advanced stages in the same industrial park." Live Events ETtech Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories Analysts said Foxconn's entry into this space shows that Apple is looking to diversify its suppliers in India, much like in China where it has multiple vendors for different components. "This aligns well with Apple's broader strategy to derisk and diversify its supply chain," said Prabhu Ram, vice president, industry research group, CyberMedia Research. "As India emerges as a lynchpin in Apple's growth momentum — with early signs of an end-to-end manufacturing ecosystem taking shape — it is a natural progression for Foxconn to expand its capabilities and geographic presence by manufacturing enclosures." Queries sent to Foxconn and Apple remained unanswered as of press time Thursday. Sourcing depth Neil Shah, vice president, Counterpoint Research, also said Apple globally sources enclosures from multiple players and Foxconn is one of them. Hence, it was natural for Foxconn to diversify the production in India, Shah said. "This gives Apple more leverage and also provides Foxconn with ease of integration and boosts value addition," he said. "This improves supply chain effectiveness for Foxconn as well as Apple." He added that it was difficult to quantify value addition individually but for Apple specifically, Foxconn's value addition would be under 10%. Further, he said enclosures constitute a small percentage of Apple's Bill of Materials (BoM), roughly about 2–3%. So Foxconn's foray into enclosures will not significantly add to their value addition in percentage terms. It is, however, a significant move as Apple gradually increases its manufacturing presence in India. ET was the first to report on September 25 last year that Foxconn was looking to set up an assembly unit for smartphone display modules in Tamil Nadu, making it the first such facility catering to Apple. Later, on October 8, the Tamil Nadu cabinet cleared a Rs 13,180 crore investment by Yuzhan Technology (India), which is a unit of Foxconn. Sources had said at the time that Foxconn had picked up about 500,000 square feet at a plug and play facility at the ESR Oragadam Industrial & Logistics Park, which is right next to their smartphone assembly unit near Chennai. They added that the maker of the iconic iPhone is leaning in for a model wherein even other contract manufacturers — Pegatron or Tata Electronics, for instance — can use components from this unit rather than import modules that are assembled in China. On May 19, Foxconn said it was investing an additional $1.5 billion (about Rs 12,800 crore) in this unit via a London Stock Exchange filing. All of this expansion news comes on the back of Apple CEO Tim Cook's recent statements that India will become the primary manufacturing hub for iPhones sold in the US. "For the June quarter, we do expect the majority of iPhones sold in the US will have India as their country of origin," Cook said during Apple's Q1 earnings call on May 1. Tariff tribulations US President Donald Trump, however, has not taken kindly to Apple expanding its presence in the country and even threatened to have the company pay a 25% tariff if phones sold in the US were not made in the US on May 23. This tariff threat came a week after he said he had told Apple CEO Tim Cook not to build in India. "I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else. If that is not the case, a tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the US,' Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. Foxconn plans for expansion, however, continue. The company has a huge factory coming up in Bengaluru and has a new unit in Hyderabad that is targeting AirPods — showing that the company is broadening its portfolio and venturing into other areas of production in India. ET had reported on March 30 that Foxconn is targeting producing 25-30 million iPhones out of their India facilities, which is more than double their production number from last year, as per sources.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Apple gives Tata India iPhone repair business as partnership expands
HighlightsApple has partnered with Tata Group to manage repairs for iPhones and MacBook devices in India, indicating Tata's expanding role in Apple's supply chain. Tata Group is taking over the after-sales repair mandate from an Indian unit of Taiwan's Wistron, specifically ICT Service Management Solutions. With iPhone sales rising rapidly in India, Apple may explore selling refurbished devices directly in the country, similar to its operations in the United States. Apple has brought in Tata Group to handle repairs for iPhones and MacBook devices in its fast-growing Indian market, signalling the Indian conglomerate's deepening role in the US tech giant's supply chain, two people familiar with the matter said. As Apple looks beyond China for manufacturing, Tata has fast emerged as its key supplier and already assembles iPhone s for local and foreign markets at three facilities in south India, with one of them also making some iPhone components. In its latest partnership expansion, Tata is taking over the mandate from an Indian unit of Taiwan's Wistron, ICT Service Management Solutions, and will carry out such after-sales repairs from its Karnataka iPhone assembly campus, both sources said. The market for repairs is only going to boom in India, the world's second-biggest smartphone market, as iPhone sales skyrocket. Counterpoint Research estimates around 11 million iPhones were sold in India last year, giving Apple a 7% market share, compared to just 1% in 2020. The latest contract award signals Apple's growing confidence on Tata as it hopes to win more business from the world's most valuable smartphone company. "Tata's deepening partnership with Apple could also pave the groundwork for Apple directly selling refurbished devices in India, like how it does in the United States currently," said Prabhu Ram, a vice president at Cybermedia Research. The takeover from ICT by Tata is currently ongoing, both sources said, who declined to be named as they were not authorized to speak on the matter. Apple and Wistron did not respond to requests for comment, while a spokesperson for Tata declined to comment. While Apple's official service centres across India can do basic repairs, they would now ship phones and laptops to Tata's facility for more complex issues. Wistron's ICT however will continue to service other clients excluding Apple, one of the sources said. Amid an impending threat of US President Donald Trump's tariffs on China, India is also emerging as a favoured destination for iPhone exports. Apple CEO Tim Cook has said the bulk of iPhones sold in the United States during June quarter will be made at factories in India.
