Foxconn Recalls Chinese Workers from iPhone Plants in India: Report

Apple partner Foxconn has pulled back hundreds of Chinese engineers and technicians from its iPhone manufacturing operations in India, potentially complicating Apple’s expansion efforts in the country — reports Bloomberg.

The abrupt withdrawal began around two months ago and has so far seen over 300 Chinese staffers return home, sources familiar with the matter revealed. Most of those who remain at Foxconn’s iPhone plants in southern India are support staff from Taiwan.

While no official reason has been given, the timing aligns with broader efforts by Beijing to curb technology transfers and restrict skilled labour from leaving China — especially to rising manufacturing hubs like India and Southeast Asia.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has long emphasized that Chinese assembly workers are crucial not just due to cost, but because of their skill and expertise, making the sudden recall a significant operational hurdle. One source told Bloomberg that while product quality won’t suffer, the change is expected to “affect efficiency on the assembly line.”

The move could not come at a worse time. Apple and Foxconn are ramping up production of the iPhone 17, and construction of a new iPhone plant in southern India is already underway. India, which only started assembling iPhones at scale four years ago, now accounts for about 20% of global iPhone output. Apple plans to build most U.S.-bound iPhones in India by late 2026, much to the dissatisfaction of President Donald Trump.

The shift also highlights the growing geopolitical tug-of-war over global tech supply chains. As India tries to woo more manufacturers, China appears to be tightening its grip. One person close to the matter described the loss of Chinese managers — who have been “critical in training Foxconn staff in India” — as a key setback in Apple’s diversification strategy.