Apple’s India revenue grew at a double-digit pace in the year ended March, crossing the $10-billion mark as the country gains importance both as a consumer market and a manufacturing hub for the iPhone maker.
Apple has crossed $10 billion in annual sales in India for the first time, marking a significant milestone for the iPhone maker as the country becomes an increasingly important market and manufacturing base for the technology giant.
Apple’s revenue in India grew at a double-digit rate during the 12 months ended March, surpassing $10 billion, Bloomberg reported, citing a person familiar with the matter. That compares with sales of around $9 billion in the previous financial year.
iPhones accounted for the bulk of Apple’s sales in India, while demand for other products, including iPads and MacBooks, also increased.
While India continues to account for a relatively small share of Apple’s overall global business, the country is emerging as one of its key growth markets outside the US and China. Rising disposable incomes and growing demand for premium smartphones have helped Apple expand its presence in the world’s second-largest smartphone market.
Apple expands retail footprint in India
Apple has also been expanding its physical retail presence across the country. The company opened another store in Mumbai in February, taking the number of official Apple retail stores in India to six.
The retail expansion comes as Apple seeks to reach more consumers directly and strengthen its brand presence in a market traditionally dominated by Android smartphones.
Pricing, however, remains a challenge. Apple products generally carry higher price tags in India than in the US, partly because of taxes. The entry-level iPhone 17, for instance, is priced at Rs 82,900 in India, compared with $799 in the US.
More from BusinessApple has sought to make its devices more accessible through credit-card discounts in partnership with banks, student offers and exchange programmes for older devices.
India’s role in Apple manufacturing grows
India’s importance to Apple extends beyond consumer sales. The country has emerged as a major manufacturing hub as Apple diversifies its production footprint.
Apple now has five factories producing iPhones in India, according to the Bloomberg report. Around one in every four iPhones is now manufactured in the country, with India becoming an important production base for devices exported to the US.
The combination of rising domestic sales, an expanding retail network and growing manufacturing capacity underscores India’s increasingly important role in Apple’s global strategy.
