Shipments of iPhones and other smartphones from China to the United States plummeted in April falling to levels not seen since 2011, according to newly released customs data reported by Bloomberg. The sharp drop underscores how geopolitical tensions and shifting supply chains are fundamentally reshaping the global smartphone industry.
A 72% Crash in Just One Month
Chinese smartphone exports to the U.S. plunged 72% last month, totaling just under $700 million. That’s a far steeper decline than the 21% overall drop in Chinese exports to the U.S. for the same period.
Smartphones have long been one of the top three U.S. imports from China, alongside laptops and lithium-ion batteries. But the data suggests a significant decoupling is already underway, one driven by trade policy, diversification strategies, and rising tensions between the two countries.
The Trump Effect and a New India Play
This nosedive in shipments comes against the backdrop of the Trump administration’s tariff campaigns, which at their peak included 145% levies on Chinese electronics. The tariffs were intended to curb reliance on Chinese manufacturing, and they appear to be accelerating a broader realignment of the tech industry’s supply chain.
One of the biggest beneficiaries of that realignment? India.
Apple has been rapidly ramping up iPhone production in India, with output reaching $22 billion in the fiscal year ending March, a nearly 60% year-over-year increase. The company has also been planning to shift most U.S.-bound iPhone production to India by the end of next year.
But not everyone’s on board with that strategy.
Trump Pressures Apple Over India Expansion
During a recent state visit to Qatar, former President Donald Trump revealed that he directly asked Apple CEO Tim Cook to halt Apple’s expansion in India.
“I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday,” Trump said. “He is building all over India.”
While Apple hasn’t publicly responded to Trump’s comments, CEO Cook addressed the company’s evolving supply chain strategy during its latest earnings call.
“What we learned some time ago, having everything in one location had too much risk with it,” said Cook.
“We have, over time, with certain parts of the supply chain, opened up new sources of supply. You could see that kind of thing continuing in the future.”
What It All Means
Apple’s long-standing manufacturing base in China has faced increasing scrutiny, not just from regulators, but from investors concerned about geopolitical risk and production resilience.
The dramatic April decline in iPhone shipments from China may mark a tipping point in that shift. As Apple looks to de-risk its operations and build up India as a key hub, the U.S.-China tech divide may only grow wider.
And while the iPhone will continue to be assembled across multiple geographies, where it’s made and how that affects pricing, availability, and policy has never mattered more.
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