Despite the impact of the second wave, mobile phone exports recorded a 250% year-on-year (YoY) growth in the April-June period.
Mobile phones worth £460 million were exported in this time, compared to £130 million in the same period of previous year, according to the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA). This association is the apex body for the mobile and electronics industry. Sequentially, mobile phone exports fell from £863.6 million in the January to March 2021 period. Overall electronic goods’ exports doubled in April-June, crossing the £2 billion mark.
“Despite the second wave of Covid, the prudent policy of the government to continue manufacturing and backed by the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme, the industry has made significant progress in manufacturing and exports,” ICEA chairman Pankaj Mohindroo said. He, however, noted that India still has a long way to go as a global exporter.
Imports of mobile phones were at an all-time low since 2014-15, standing at £60 million in the quarter compared to £310 million for the similar period of the previous year. However, given the rising demand for computers (desktops, tablets and laptops), imports in laptops and tablet categories recorded over 50% growth in the period at £1 billion.
In January to March too, import value of laptops and tablets stood at £959.7 million, according to the ICEA data. “Our endeavour is to replicate the success of mobile phone manufacturing in India to ‘IT hardware’ (referring again to desktops, laptops and tablets). We are working with the government to create suitable policy intervention to support and create an ecosystem to build large-scale manufacturing of these products in India and cater to at least 25% of the global requirement,” Mohindroo said.
Sasikumar Gendham, India MD for electronics maker Salcomp, said demand is robust and production is back to normal. The shortage of materials like integrated circuits in China and the availability and cost of containers for exports are some factors still hampering exports, he added.
