The BRICS TimesApple is cracking down on retailers in India to stop the grey market flow of iPhones to Russia. New rules impose heavy fines for foreign SIM usage on new devices.
Stricter Rules for Shipments
Apple has increased its monitoring of iPhone shipments within India recently. The company wants to stop devices from moving to Russia and other restricted markets. The business news site MoneyControl reported this development on Monday.
Warnings Issued to Retailers
Official distributors in India have sent strict warnings to local phone sellers. Retailers will face penalties if new iPhones use a foreign SIM card within 90 days. The distributors are looking closely at the new iPhone 17 series.
Heavy Fines for Violations
A notice sent to sellers outlined serious consequences for breaking rules. Stores could pay large fines if Apple detects foreign SIM usage. They might also face blocks on their official identification codes.
Background on Russia Ban
Apple stopped selling products officially in Russia after the invasion of Ukraine began. The tech giant also limited Apple Pay and other digital services there. However, new models still arrive in Russia via parallel imports.
Export Numbers and Leakage
MoneyControl reports that iPhone exports from India reached $1.6 billion in October. This amount is nearly one-third of all smartphone exports from the country. It also represents about 40% of total electronics exports.
The Grey Market Route
Experts estimate that 3-5% of iPhones leave India through unofficial paths. Nearly half of these smuggled devices end up in Russia. Other destinations include countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
