Samsung has been exploring various ways to mitigate the impact of US reciprocal tariffs. One such move is maximizing the use of its global manufacturing hubs and customer management capabilities. The Korean firm now reportedly plans to produce 800,000 additional units of the Galaxy S25 smartphone series in May 2025 in response to US tariffs.
Samsung to make 3.3 million units of the Galaxy S25 series in May
Following the announcement of US reciprocal tariffs, Samsung is concerned about the future of its business as it heavily relies on the global supply chain. While the 90-day pause on the reciprocal tariffs for most countries remains in effect, the company wants to speed up the production of its Galaxy smartphones and tablets.
According to a report from the Korean outlet TheElec, Samsung told its component suppliers last month that it would produce 16.2 million smartphones and tablets in May 2025. The report adds that around 400,000 units have been planned for tablets, and the rest are smartphones.
If we talk only about the flagship Galaxy S series, Samsung plans to make a total of 3.3 million Galaxy S25 units this month. Breaking down model-wise, 1.3 million units of the Galaxy S25, 500,000 units of the S25+, and 1.5 million units of the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
The company initially planned to make around 2.5 million Galaxy S25 phones in May 2025. Since there’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding the Trump administration’s reciprocal tariffs, it has decided to increase the production volume to 3.3 million units. The report notes that the extra units are mostly for the Ultra model, maybe due to its strong demand.
As of now, smartphones and computers produced in South Korea are exempt from US reciprocal tariffs. However, Samsung doesn’t want to take any risks, as there’s no guarantee how long the exemption will remain valid. So, the company has decided to increase production volume this month as a precaution.
