India’s smartphone exports rose sharply in August 2025, registering a 39% year-on-year increase, according to the India Cellular & Electronics Association (ICEA). Exports climbed from USD 1.09 billion in August 2024 to around USD 1.53 billion in August 2025, countering reports of a slowdown in the sector.
Shipments to the United States saw the steepest jump, more than doubling by 148% to USD 965 million, compared with USD 388 million a year earlier. ICEA highlighted that such growth underscores India’s strengthening position as a global smartphone manufacturing and export hub.
Pankaj Mohindroo, Chairman of ICEA, cautioned against simplistic interpretations of trade data. “Every export sector has its particular nuances based on multiple factors. Oversimplification of trade data, and worse, inferences based on monthly comparisons, are misleading and avoidable. It’s important that subject matter experts are consulted before drawing sector-specific conclusions,” he said.
The surge in August exports comes amid government efforts to push electronics manufacturing through schemes like Production-Linked Incentives (PLI), aimed at boosting India’s share in the global value chain.
