May 14 (Reuters) - Smartphone shipments to the U.S.

surged 30% in March as manufacturers Apple ( AAPL ), Samsung

and Motorola rushed to bring more devices into the

country in anticipation of steep import tariffs, Counterpoint

Research said on Wednesday.

Apple ( AAPL ) alone airlifted a record $2 billion worth of iPhones

from India in March, leveraging Indian suppliers Foxconn and

Tata Electronics, to meet the demand surge, Reuters reported

last month.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

The surge in shipments reflects companies' efforts to

sidestep hefty tariffs that could erode profits or dampen the

demand for smartphones if the levies drove up prices.

Separately, the growing reliance on India and Vietnam

highlights manufacturers' strategic shift to diversify supply

chains away from China to reduce geopolitical risks and

capitalize on the emerging production hubs.

CONTEXT

As Apple ( AAPL ) increased its production in India in March,

shipments from the country rose significantly. The iPhone maker

said most of its smartphones sold in the U.S. will originate

from India in the June quarter.

President Donald Trump announced a series of tariffs on

April 2, prompting companies such as Apple ( AAPL ) to adjust supply

chains.

However, the U.S. suspended the tariffs on smartphones and

other electronic devices as part of a broader 90-day pause.

KEY QUOTES

"The increase in shipments in March and early April will

help insulate Apple ( AAPL ) from potential immediate pricing impacts in

the U.S. through mid-to-late summer," said senior research

analyst Gerrit Schneemann.

"Should the tariff situation remain unresolved with China by

the time the iPhone 17 ships, we expect India to become the

primary provider for U.S.-bound iPhone 17 devices."

BY THE NUMBERS

Apple's ( AAPL ) sales to distributors and retailers rose 42% in

March, while Samsung's sell-in rose 4%.

Lenovo ( LNVGF )-owned Motorola nearly tripled its exports

from India.

The country's smartphone exports to the U.S. accounted for

26% of all first-quarter shipments, up from 16% a year ago.

GRAPHIC