Foxconn’s current facility in Brazil — picture credit score: Foxconn
Sao Paulo media claims that experiences of iPhone producer Foxconn increasing in Brazil is right, though Apple has mentioned it is not going to improve manufacturing, and is not attempting to beat US tariffs.
For years, Apple has been working to cut back its over-reliance on China as a single or main supply of iPhones, and people strikes have seen its suppliers set up amenities in a number of different nations. In response to Apple, nonetheless, its manufacturing in Brazil is expressly for making iPhones to be offered domestically and as of late April 2025, will proceed to be so.
Apple was responding to a report in native publication Exame, which claimed Foxconn was increasing its amenities so that it may make iPhones for export to the US. The report was unclear on particulars, however did say that the enlargement was at Foxconn’s plant in Jundiai, southeast Brazil.
The most recent growth
Now Exame is principally repeating its authentic story, if reframing it because the publication having been “anticipating” Foxconn’s transfer. It’s presenting the story now as whether it is confirmed, although it’s nonetheless unclear, and there’s no cited foundation for the declare.
The precise declare is that Foxconn is increasing manufacturing with a purpose to export iPhones to the US as a result of Brazil faces a decrease “reciprocal” tariff than China. That is additionally the particular declare that Apple has beforehand denied.
At current, Foxconn makes the iPhone 13, iPhone 14, and iPhone 15 in Brazil. Anatel, the nation’s equal of the FCC, not too long ago granted authorization for Foxconn’s Brazilian crops to make the iPhone 16.
In every of those instances, although, the regulator’s permissions solely cowl the bottom fashions of the iPhone. At current, the present iPhone 16 Professional and iPhone 16 Professional Max are usually not manufactured in Brazil and have to be imported into the nation on the market.
Apple has mentioned that it is altering its provide and distribution chains, in order that, as an illustration, extra Chinese language-made iPhones will probably be offered outdoors the US. And on the similar time, extra of the iPhones imported into the States will come from nations with decrease tariffs than China.
It is conceivable, then, that Brazilian manufacturing may increase, however Apple has solely spoken of creating these modifications with India and Vietnam.
Planning started in 2024
These modifications are in response to Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs being calamitously greater than they have been anticipated to be earlier than he returned to the White Home. Nevertheless, Exame additionally insists that Foxconn started planning its enlargement at some unspecified level in 2024.
If that is right, then the plan reportedly issues updating the equipment already in place in Foxconn’s amenities within the nation. It could reportedly additionally see some revision to Foxconn’s native industrial processes, though there is no such thing as a details about truly including new amenities or manufacturing strains.
Foxconn does get an unspecified quantity of native tax aid for its current manufacturing within the area. That might presumably proceed no matter how a lot Foxconn expands there, so together with the decrease tariffs, manufacturing prices may certainly be way more enticing to Apple than in China.
Whether or not Apple is or is just not increasing its iPhone manufacturing in Brazil, by means of Foxconn, it’s nonetheless dealing with authorized and regulatory pressures from the nation. In March 2025, a choose in Brazil gave Apple 90 days wherein to allow third-party app shops, or face heavy fines every day.
That ruling was nearly instantly overturned on attraction, nonetheless.
