Apple supplier Foxconn has begun importing components from China to India for iPhone 17 assembly, marking a significant step in Apple's manufacturing diversification strategy. Customs data reveals that iPhone 17 components comprised 10% of Foxconn's June imports, with trial production starting this month ahead of mass production in August.

This move reflects Apple's plan to manufacture the iPhone 17 simultaneously in India and China from launch, positioning India as a strategic export hub to the US market. The company has dramatically increased iPhone exports from India to the US by 219% year-on-year in March, aiming to entirely shift US-bound iPhone sourcing from China to India by 2026.

However, challenges remain as skilled Chinese engineers have left Foxconn's Indian facilities, potentially complicating the complex precision manufacturing required for the iPhone 17's intricate assembly processes.