Imports of iPhone and other smartphones from China have reached their lowest level since 2011

Customs data reveals that the import of iPhones and other smartphones into the US from China has fallen to its lowest level since 2011.

While the more extreme tariffs have been ‘paused’, the 20% tariff imposed in March remains in place, and is thought to be behind a $1.8 billion drop in the value of smartphones being transported from China to the US.

20% customs duties on iPhones

At his most extreme, Trump announced 145% tariffs on goods imported from China. He was later spoken to, where he “paused” these things temporarily, but kept the 20% tariff.

Apple told investors that this tariff would mean additional costs of about $900 million in the current quarter.

While the company has absorbed these costs so far, Apple is reportedly considering increasing iPhone 17 prices compared to its original plans in order to protect its margins.

Smartphone imports decline by $1.8 billion

Bloomberg Official Chinese customs data indicates that smartphone exports to the US fell by $1.8 billion in April (compared to March). This brought it down to levels last seen in 2011, and close to those seen in the early days of iPhones.

Detailed customs data showed Tuesday that smartphone exports fell 72% to just under $700 million last month, sharply outpacing the overall 21% decline in Chinese shipments to the United States. This has highlighted how the Trump administration’s tariff campaign is disrupting technology supply chains and shifting electronics elsewhere.

There were significant but less severe declines in other electronics categories affected by the tariffs:

• Laptops: – $260 million
• Solid state drives: – $156.9 million
• Gaming consoles: – $135.9 million

Headphones, monitors, and wireless games also declined significantly.

Apple moves US production to India

CEO Tim Cook told investors that the company aims to get as much U.S. production from India as possible, but China has not made that easy.

However, we can see evidence of this shift, with Apple sending four times as many iPhone parts to India for assembly there.

The value of phone component exports to India — home to Apple’s largest iPhone production base outside China — has nearly quadrupled over the past year, according to China’s General Administration of Customs.

Featured accessories

Photo by M on Unsplash