Apple set revenue records in India in the quarter ended March 2024, even as overall revenue declined 4 percent on the back of iPhone sales going down 10 percent as compared to the same period last year, said chief executive Tim Cook.
“We did grow strong by double-digit, and so we were very, very pleased with that. It was a new March quarter revenue record for us. As you know, as I’ve said before, I see it as an incredibly exciting market and it’s a major focus for us.” Cook said, commenting on India’s market performance during the company’s earnings call Friday, The Economic Times reported.
The company posted $90.75 billion in revenue in the March quarter, up from $81.8 billion in the year-ago period, beating analyst expectations. iPhone revenues, however, dropped to $45.96 billion, from $51.33 billion in the quarter to March.
iPhone sales fell on account of a sales decline in its Greater China region, which includes Mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong, where sales slid 8% year-on-year, due to strong competition from Huawei, according to analysts.
Apple chief financial officer, Luca Maestri added that the company also set a six-month revenue record in India, among other emerging markets.
“We were particularly pleased with our strong momentum in emerging markets, as we set first-half revenue records in several countries and regions including Latin America, the Middle East, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Turkey,” Maestri said.
Cook said that Apple is producing iPhone in India to stay competitive, and the company’s growth in the Indian market is linked to its operational expansion.
“From a pragmatic point of view, you need to produce there to be competitive, and so, yes, the two things are linked from that point of view, but we have both operational things going on and we have go to market and initiatives going on,” the executive said.
He said Apple sees enormous opportunities from the India market, after opening two stores last year. Apple continues to expand its channels and is also working with the developer ecosystem, resulting in a rapid growth in the base of developers.