Apple beefs up India supply chain as market gains importance

Steep duties make importing from China less competitive

Apple controls just 1% of the smartphone market in India, where Samsung, Xiaomi and other makers dominate.

ROSEMARY MARANDI, CHENG TING-FANG and LAULY LI, Nikkei staff writers

January 28, 2019 21:58 JST

MUMBAI/TAIPEI -- Apple has been quietly expanding its sourcing in India over the last two years, in a bid to catch up with South Korean and Chinese rivals in the fast-growing market.

While it still relies on manufacturing partners in China for more than 90% of its annual shipments, there are now five sites supplying iPhones and components in India against none two years ago.