Apple Inc.’s annual sales in India hit a record of nearly $9 billion in the last fiscal year, signaling growing consumer demand for its flagship devices as the company ramps up its retail footprint in the world’s most populous country.
Revenue rose about 13% in the 12 months through March from $8 billion a year earlier, according to a person familiar with the matter, who declined to be named as the information is private. Apple’s marquee iPhones accounted for a majority of the sales, and demand for MacBook computers also surged.
The outsized jump—which hasn’t been previously reported—is a boost for the Cupertino, California-based company at a time it’s grappling with plateauing mobile device sales around the world. While India represents still a fraction of its overall business, the company is investing in a country it expects to become a key market in coming years.
Apple did not respond to requests for comment.
India’s local sourcing requirements prevented Apple from opening its iconic stores in the South Asian nation for years. As the policy eased, Apple finally launched its online store in India in 2020. Apple’s Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook then inaugurated the first two stores in India, respectively located in the financial hub of Mumbai and capital New Delhi, in 2023. The company has since boosted its retail network in the country and added more premium resellers.
High taxes make iPhones pricey in India—Apple sells the entry-level iPhone 16 model at 79,900 rupees ($906.39) in India, compared with the $799 price tag in the US. The company has been trying to work around that by offering student discounts, trade-ins on older devices, and by partnering with banks for credit card rebates, and the measures have boosted sales. Cook has consistently said India’s among the company’s fastest-growing markets.
