Traditional exports like petroleum and diamonds no longer lead India's export economy. A significant shift has placed smartphones at the forefront of India's global trade relationships. This change represents more than statistics on a page.
The government data reveals that this transformation happened quickly. Exports of smartphones grew by 55% in just one year. The numbers tell a compelling story of India's manufacturing evolution. Let's examine how this remarkable shift occurred.
India's smartphone exports have surged dramatically. They now outpace traditional export powerhouses like petroleum products and diamonds for the first time. The sector recorded a remarkable 55% growth. It reached US$24.14 billion in 2024-25 compared to US$15.57 billion in the previous fiscal year.
Government data reveals that smartphone shipments to the United States increased nearly fivefold over three years. They jumped from US$2.16 billion in 2022-23 to an impressive US$10.6 billion in 2024-25. Exports to Japan also witnessed a fourfold increase. They grew from just US$120 million to US$520 million during the same period.
"This rapid ascent has propelled smartphones to become one of India's top exported goods, overtaking traditional leaders like petroleum products and diamonds for the first time," a commerce ministry official told PTI.
The top five nations where India registered the highest growth in smartphone exports were the United States, the Netherlands, Italy, Japan, and the Czech Republic. This remarkable expansion has transformed India into a major global manufacturing hub for smartphones.
The Production-Linked Incentive scheme has been instrumental in this growth trajectory. This government initiative has successfully spurred investments. It scaled up local production and integrated India more deeply into global value chains.
According to Counterpoint's 'Make in India' Service report, tech giants Apple and Samsung accounted for nearly 94% of India's smartphone exports in 2024. Both companies have continued expanding their local manufacturing operations. This drove shipments of Made-in-India smartphones up by 6% year-on-year in 2024.
Future smartphone manufacturing in India is expected to continue growing at double-digit rates in 2025. Local value addition should increase alongside this growth. The big performance that this sector has been able to give highlights the emerging status of India in the world electronics manufacturing scene.