‘5 Planes Full of iPhones’: Apple Rushes Shipments to US Ahead of Trump Tariffs

Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) reportedly flew five cargo planes loaded with iPhones and other products from manufacturing centers in Asia to the United States in late March, racing to beat President Donald Trump’s sweeping new tariffs that took effect on April 5.

According to The Times of India, the emergency shipments arrived over just three days during the last week of March, creating a buffer that could temporarily shield US consumers from immediate price increases.

“The reserves that arrived at lower duty will temporarily insulate the company from the higher prices that it will need to pay for new shipments under the revised tax rates,” a source told the newspaper.

The rushed shipments come as Apple faces significant exposure to Trump’s new tariff structure, which imposes duties of 104% on goods from China, 46% on Vietnamese imports, and 26% on products from India. Apple manufactures the bulk of its iPhones in China but has diversified production to Vietnam and India in recent years.

Analysts estimate the tariffs could potentially add $250 or more to the price of high-end iPhones if fully passed on to consumers. The iPhone 16 Pro Max, Apple’s most expensive smartphone, currently retails for $1,599.

Industry watchers remain divided on whether Apple will absorb some costs or pass them entirely to consumers. Ryan Reith, group vice president at research firm IDC, believes price increases are inevitable: “I just don’t see any other way around it.”

Apple is not alone in rushing shipments ahead of the tariffs. Nintendo reportedly shipped over 383,000 Switch 2 consoles across five days in January to “get ahead of the risk of tariffs.”


Information for this story was found via the sources and companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.

Video Articles

Four Countries Control the Fertilizer That Feeds the World | Sage Potash

$10,000 Gold Is Just A Question of Time | Florian Grummes

What Happens If Silver Finally Breaks $50? | Gary Thompson – Silver47

Recommended

Emerita Resources Expands El Cura Drill Program By 10,000 Metres As Deposit Remains Open For Expansion

ESGold Signs MOU For Tailings Project In Colombia With Grades Up To 42 g/t Gold, 280 g/t Silver

Related News

Trump Threatens Russia With 100% Tariffs Unless Ukraine Peace Deal Reached in 50 Days

President Donald Trump has tied an economic deadline to the battlefield, warning that Russia will...

Tuesday, July 15, 2025, 12:50:00 PM

Global Trade on Edge as Trump Targets BRICS With Tariff Threats

In a move reminiscent of his first term, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has issued a...

Monday, December 2, 2024, 12:22:31 PM

Apple Faces Lawsuit in Italy Over iPhone Battery Life

It appears that Apple is in hot water once again, this time about making misleading...

Monday, January 25, 2021, 02:37:00 PM

US Announces Major Tariff Hike on Chinese Graphite in Battery Trade War

US officials unveiled 93.5% import duties on Chinese graphite Thursday, escalating tensions over electric vehicle...

Friday, July 18, 2025, 02:17:00 PM

“Sharpest Decline In Earnings Outlook Since 2020” Signals Recession Ahead — Report

The US economy is hurtling toward a stagflationary recession, according to a report by Apollo...

Monday, April 28, 2025, 12:01:00 PM