Apple ramps up iPhone 18 Pro production in India for overseas shipment

Apple is accelerating the manufacture of its newest flagship iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models at two Indian facilities, one run by Foxconn and the other by Tata Electronics. Chartered aircraft, primarily departing from Chennai, are already carrying the devices to foreign markets, with the United States expected to be the main destination. Industry insiders indicate that Apple could expand the number of assembly lines to nearly a dozen, contingent on worldwide demand.

Because only about 15% of iPhones sold in India are Pro variants, the majority—estimated at 80-90%—of the Indian output is slated for export, which should lift the country's September-quarter export numbers. This marks a departure from earlier patterns where Indian-made iPhones faced a lag before reaching overseas shelves. The strategy aligns with Apple’s recent price hikes and its broader push to deepen India’s role in its supply chain.