After denying initial report, Apple might expand iPhone assembly in Brazil after all

In early April, Brazilian business magazine Exame reported that Apple was looking to increase iPhone assembly at both Foxconn facilities in Jundiaí, São Paulo, as a workaround to President Trump’s tariffs, which Apple denied.

Now, Exame is doubling down on its original report.

Change of plans

At the time, the company said it didn’t have any plans to increase local production, stating that its factories in Jundiaí were aimed at supplying the Brazilian market. Apple has been assembling iPhones locally in Jundiaí for more than a decade. Currently, these factories assemble iPhone 16, 16 Plus, and 16e.

Now, Exame is claiming that Apple has indeed decided to increase iPhone assembly in Brazil as part of its strategy to circumvent the U.S. tariffs.

In a report dated April 25th, Exame stated that Apple began studying the possibility of updating the machinery and industrial processes at Foxconn’s facilities in Jundiaí last year and will, in fact, use these factories as alternatives to supply the U.S. market.

It is worth noting that during last week’s earnings call for fiscal Q2 2025, CEO Tim Cook and CFO Kevan Parekh did not mention Brazil when discussing Apple’s strategy to mitigate the impact of President Trump’s tariffs. So far, Apple has only confirmed that India and Vietnam will increase their share of production for U.S.-bound products, while China will remain the company’s main production base for the rest of the world.

Do you think Apple will be able to keep the current iPhone prices in the U.S.? Did you or someone you know buy an Apple device out of fear of a price hike? Let us know in the comments.