Foxconn Starts Importing iPhone 17 Parts Into India [Report]

Foxconn, one of Apple's key suppliers, has begun importing iPhone 17 components into India, customs data reveals. According to the Economic Times, the shipments suggest that trial production is already underway ahead of a planned fall launch.

The initial shipments, which include display assemblies, cover glass, and camera modules, are said to be for trial runs, making up about 10% of Foxconn's component imports from China in June. Industry experts told the outlet that trial production is expected to begin this month, with a ramp-up to mass production in August. The bulk of imports still consist of parts for older iPhone 14 and 16 models, likely to meet demand during the fall festive season.

This early start in India is a major part of Apple's strategy to manufacture the iPhone 17 simultaneously in both India and China. The company has been aggressively ramping up its Indian manufacturing to use the country as a strategic export hub, especially as it navigates U.S. tariffs on Chinese-made goods.


However, scaling production in India might be challenging. The report notes that this push comes after a recent exodus of Chinese engineers from Foxconn's Indian facilities, a move that could slow the critical transfer of manufacturing know-how.

TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has since said the impact of the staff withdrawal would be negligible, claiming that Taiwanese employees established the production lines and that the pullout was planned. Still, Apple has been working hard to close the manufacturing gap between the two countries. While the iPhone 14's Indian assembly lagged six weeks behind China, the iPhone 15 was nearly simultaneous, and India began participating in the new product introduction (NPI) process with the iPhone 16.

Apple did not respond to the Economic Times' request for comment. Please download the iClarified app or follow iClarified on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and RSS for more iPhone 17 updates.