Apple sales surge to record $9 bn in India in retail push

Bountiful Harvest

- SANKALP PHARTIYAL

APPLE'S ANNUAL SALES in India hit a record of nearly $9 billion in the last financial year, signaling growing consumer demand for its flagship devices as the company ramps up its retail footprint in the country.

Revenue rose about 13% in the 12 months through March from $8 billion a year earlier, according to a person familiar with the matter, who declined to be named as the information is private.

Apple's marquee iPhones accounted for a majority of the sales, and demand for MacBook computers also surged.

The outsized jump—which hasn't been previously reported—is a boost for the Cupertino, California-based company at a time it's grappling with plateauing mobile device sales around the world.

While India represents still a fraction of its overall business, the company is investing in a country it expects to become a key market in coming years.