Apple's tax maneuver revealed: 1.5 million iPhones imported

US-based technology giant Apple has increased production in India to bring more than 1 million iPhones into the US, aiming to avoid the new tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump.

Following discussions with local authorities to reduce customs processing times from 30 hours to 6 hours at Chennai Airport in India's Tamil Nadu state, Apple shipped iPhones to the US last month using 6 cargo planes, each with a capacity of 100 tons. It is stated that Apple aims to build up stock in the US market with this move.

It is estimated that the total weight of an iPhone and its charging cable is 350 grams, and that approximately 1.5 million iPhones were brought to the US with the 600-ton shipment.

Apple, which carries out the majority of its production in China, had warned that there could be sharp increases in iPhone prices due to the new tariffs. In order to shift its production outside of China, Apple had previously reached agreements with Foxconn and Tata in India and began production at three factories.

Foxconn's Chennai factory produced 20 million iPhones last year. Apple sells more than 220 million iPhones annually worldwide. Twenty percent of iPhone imports to the US come from India.

With President Trump increasing the tariff rate on imports from China from 54 percent to 125 percent, it is estimated that the price of the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which is sold for 1,599 dollars in the US, will rise to 2,300 dollars. Trump had also imposed a 26 percent tariff on imports from India.

TRUMP HAD SUSPENDED TARIFFS EXCEPT FOR CHINA

US President Trump had implemented a 10 percent base customs duty on all countries and specific reciprocal tariff rates for certain countries on April 2. Increasing the tariff rate on China from 54 percent to 125 percent yesterday, Trump stated that more than 75 countries had contacted the US to resolve trade issues and announced that he had suspended customs duties for a period of 90 days.

News Source: İHA