Here’s the straight answer people hunt for: if you’re asking which state in India exports the most electronics right now, it’s Tamil Nadu-and it’s not a photo finish. The Apple supply chain, coastal logistics, and a deep vendor base have pushed it to the top and kept it there through FY2024 and into 2025. Expect Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh on its heels, but Tamil Nadu holds the crown as of today.

Tamil Nadu is a southern Indian state that, as of FY2024-FY2025 (year to date), ranks first by electronics export value from India, anchored by large-scale smartphone assembly and component manufacturing in and around Chennai and Sriperumbudur.

TL;DR

• top electronics exporting state India: Tamil Nadu.
• Why it leads: Apple’s contract manufacturers (Foxconn, Pegatron) + fast ports (Chennai/Kattupalli) + dense supplier network.
• Close rivals: Karnataka (Bengaluru-Kolar belt, Tata/Wistron) and Uttar Pradesh (Noida-Greater Noida, Samsung, Dixon).
• Data lens: India’s electronics goods exports topped roughly $29-30 billion in FY2024 (Ministry of Commerce), with smartphones driving the surge.
• What could change: New mega plants, deeper component ecosystems, and PLI milestones could reshuffle shares in 2026-2027.

What counts as “electronics exports” and which clock are we reading?

When people say “electronics exports,” they usually mean the “Electronics Goods” basket under India’s export data (HS Chapter 85). That covers finished phones, other consumer electronics, components like printed circuit boards (PCBA), chargers, wearables, and more. The most credible scoreboard here is official trade data.

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (India) is a central government ministry that publishes official export statistics via monthly and annual releases. For state-wise splits, analysts also rely on the export port of clearance and company disclosures. Another trusted source is the trade statistics office:

Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS) is a Government of India agency that compiles and disseminates India’s trade data, including commodity-level exports.

Using these, the pattern is clear for FY2024 and into 2025: Tamil Nadu has pulled ahead, largely on the back of premium smartphone exports.

The current leaderboard

Based on official releases (Ministry of Commerce) and industry tallies (ICEA for smartphones) through FY2024 and early 2025, here’s how the state race stacks up directionally:

Note: The shares are indicative ranges compiled from public filings, port-cleared export trends, and industry association estimates for FY2024-early FY2025. Exact state-by-state export values can vary with shipment timing and port routing.

Why Tamil Nadu leads right now

The short version: it’s where the iPhone export engine fires on all cylinders. But let’s ground that in the entities and the mechanics that matter.

Apple Inc. is a consumer electronics company whose premium smartphone exports from India have grown sharply since 2022-2023. Two of its key assemblers operate in Tamil Nadu:

• Foxconn is a global electronics manufacturer (Hon Hai) that assembles iPhones in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, for export.
• Pegatron is a electronics contract manufacturer producing iPhones in the Chennai belt.

Those big anchors draw in tier-1 and tier-2 suppliers-chargers from Salcomp, camera modules from Sunny Opotech, and other components-building a dense ecosystem within a truck’s reach of ports. That matters because speed is money in electronics.

Logistics is the other ace. Chennai and Kattupalli ports, plus a busy air cargo terminal, shrink transit times to Europe, the Middle East, and the US. When high-value phones need to fly, capacity is there.

Policy helps. The national incentive engine is the PLI scheme:

Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing is a Government of India incentive programme launched in 2020 to spur incremental production and exports of electronics, including smartphones. Tamil Nadu aligned its state incentives, quick land allocation, and single-window clearances with PLI milestones. That alignment lets large plants scale fast.

How Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh stack up

Karnataka competes with brains and breadth. Bengaluru’s design talent, EMS expertise, and the smartphone assembly base in the Kolar region add up.

Tata Electronics is a electronics manufacturer that acquired Wistron’s iPhone plant operations in Karnataka and is expanding assembly and precision components. Pair that with industrial electronics players and automotive electronics in the state, and you get a sturdy runner-up profile. Many shipments use Bengaluru’s air cargo and, when needed, route to Chennai ports by road-slower than Tamil Nadu’s doorstep ports, but workable.

Uttar Pradesh has scale like few others. The Noida-Greater Noida belt houses massive factories:

• Samsung Electronics is a consumer electronics manufacturer operating one of its largest smartphone factories in Noida, supplying both domestic and export markets.
• Dixon Technologies is a Indian electronics manufacturing services (EMS) company producing smartphones and other electronics in UP.

Proximity to Delhi’s air cargo hub (IGI) helps with speed-to-market. The constraint? A greater chunk of output services India’s huge domestic demand, and port access for seaborne shipments usually means longer inland hauls to Nhava Sheva (Mumbai) or Mundra. Still, UP consistently sits in the top three for export value and remains a heavyweight in production volume.

What changed since 2020-and what could change next

Five years ago, Uttar Pradesh and the NCR belt were seen as the electronics export centre of gravity. The shift toward Tamil Nadu and Karnataka happened as Apple ramped up “China+1” production in India, and the PLI incentive structure rewarded rapid scaling of high-value models for overseas markets. As premium smartphone ASPs rose, the export value ledger tilted south.

Expect the board to keep moving. Three catalysts to watch:

• New iPhone lines and higher-value models assembled in India-if more Pro/Pro Max capacity lands in TN or expands in Karnataka, state shares can swing a few points within a quarter.
• Deeper component localisation-camera modules, PCBA, enclosures, and connectors added near final assembly multiply export value and reduce import content.
• Non-phone electronics-industrial electronics, wearables, and power electronics can lift Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana beyond their current ranges if they land anchor investors.

Numbers that matter (and where they come from)

Here’s the frame most analysts use:

• Electronics Goods exports (HS Chapter 85) crossed roughly $29-30 billion in FY2024, per official monthly trade releases by the Ministry of Commerce. Smartphones were the growth locomotive.
• Smartphone exports alone are often pegged above $15 billion for FY2024 by industry associations such as ICEA; Apple is estimated to be the single largest contributor to that pool.
• Tamil Nadu’s share in electronics exports rose sharply in FY2023-FY2024 as Foxconn and Pegatron scaled. Karnataka lifted next, helped by the Wistron-to-Tata transition. Uttar Pradesh stayed strong but more domestically focussed.

If you need investment-grade precision, pull the latest DGCIS tables and reconcile with company shipment disclosures. Quarterly swings do happen-especially around new model launches and holiday-season exports to the US and EU.

How to pick a state if you’re an electronics exporter

This isn’t just trivia-location can make or break your margin. Use this quick decision lens:

• Product value density: If your product is high value per kilo (smartphones, premium modules), proximity to a high-capacity air cargo terminal (Chennai, Bengaluru, Delhi) cuts time-to-customer.
• Component proximity: Being near final assembly or key suppliers trims lead times and buffer stock. The TN-Karnataka belt currently offers the deepest phone ecosystem.
• Port velocity: For seaborne shipments, closer is cheaper and faster. Coastal Tamil Nadu scores here; NCR routes add inland transit.
• Skilled labour and retention: Karnataka’s design engineering pool is hard to beat; Tamil Nadu’s shop-floor and middle-management depth is proven at scale.
• Incentives match: National PLI gets you baseline support; the real differentiator is how fast a state delivers land, power, and clearances tied to your ramp plan.

Related concepts you’ll run into

• HS codes and Chapter 85: Your export line item lives here; classification affects duties and compliance.
• EMS vs OEM: EMS (like Dixon) provides capacity fast; OEM/ODM routes need more integration but can lift margins long term.
• SEZ vs DTA: SEZ units enjoy duty benefits on inputs for export; DTAs offer broader flexibility. Model it for your BOM structure.
• Vendor consolidation: Tier-1 camera/charger suppliers colocating near the final assembly is a huge velocity win.
• IP and yield: As product complexity rises, yield and process IP become your moat, not just labour cost.

Mini checklist for your board deck

• Confirm target customers by region (EU/US/MEA) and align with nearest air/sea gateway.
• Map at least five critical components to suppliers within a day’s truck reach.
• Stress-test export lead times in peak season (Sept-Dec for consumer electronics).
• Model PLI/state incentives against realistic ramp curves and yield learning.
• Secure dual logistics lanes (primary air + backup sea) to cushion disruptions.

Key entity snapshots (for validation and clarity)

Karnataka is a southern Indian state with Bengaluru as its tech hub; it ranks among India’s top electronics exporters due to smartphone, industrial electronics, and EMS capacity.

Uttar Pradesh is a northern Indian state hosting mega-factories in Noida-Greater Noida; it remains a top-three electronics exporter with strong smartphone output.

India’s Electronics Goods Exports is a export category primarily under HS Chapter 85; it reached roughly $29-30 billion in FY2024, driven by smartphones and components.

Why the answer matters beyond trivia

Knowing that Tamil Nadu leads tells you where export-grade quality systems, customs expertise, and logistics services are already mature. It signals where new component vendors will land next. It also points to where wage inflation might bite first and where the next satellite clusters (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana) will likely grow to serve existing anchors.

What could upset the rankings by 2027

• A second mega Apple assembler in Karnataka or a new Foxconn complex could tilt shares quickly.
• Deeper diversification: If Samsung retools for higher export share out of UP, the NCR belt could reclaim ground.
• Components, not just phones: States landing camera modules, substrates, and precision mechanics at scale will punch above their weight in value, even with fewer final assembly lines.

Bottom line answer

Tamil Nadu currently exports the most electronics among Indian states. If you’re placing a bet for near-term exports, the Chennai-Sriperumbudur corridor is the safest horse. For fast risers, watch Karnataka’s iPhone capacity build-out and Uttar Pradesh’s scale pivot toward a higher export mix.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which state in India exports the most electronics right now?

Tamil Nadu. As of FY2024 and into 2025, it leads on export value, driven by iPhone assembly (Foxconn, Pegatron) and a dense supplier base near Chennai ports and air cargo.

Who are the anchor companies behind Tamil Nadu’s lead?

Apple’s contract manufacturers Foxconn and Pegatron anchor the surge. Key suppliers like Salcomp (chargers) and Sunny Opotech (camera modules) add value and speed, making Tamil Nadu the export hub for premium smartphones.

How close are Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh to the top spot?

Karnataka is the closest challenger, thanks to Tata Electronics’ iPhone lines and Bengaluru’s electronics ecosystem. Uttar Pradesh remains a top-three player with Samsung, Dixon, and others, but a bigger share serves India’s domestic market, which softens its export share.

Where do the export numbers come from?

From the Ministry of Commerce’s monthly and annual trade releases and DGCIS datasets. Industry bodies like ICEA provide smartphone-specific estimates. Company filings and port clearance data help triangulate state-level patterns.

Does domestic sales volume affect export rankings?

Yes. States that fulfil large domestic demand may show lower export shares even with massive production. Uttar Pradesh is a good example: huge output, but a significant chunk is sold in India.

What policies are enabling the export boom?

The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing launched in 2020 provides incentives on incremental production. State-level fast-tracking of land, power, and approvals compounds the effect, especially in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Could another state overtake Tamil Nadu soon?

Possible but not guaranteed. If Karnataka adds another mega iPhone line or if UP shifts more capacity to exports, the gap could narrow. Component localisation waves can also boost states like Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

Is this ranking based on units or value?

Value. Premium models (like high-end iPhones) lift export value disproportionately. That’s why Tamil Nadu leads even if other states ship high volumes of mid-range devices.

What’s the best state for a new exporter to set up in 2025?

If you’re in premium smartphones or adjacent modules, Tamil Nadu offers the deepest ecosystem and fastest export lanes. For industrial electronics and engineering talent, Karnataka is compelling. For large-scale consumer electronics with strong domestic sales, Uttar Pradesh is proven and efficient.

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