This report profiles India’s electronics industry, discussing market trends through 2015 and outlook for 2016 and beyond. The report also highlights leading players in the sector including Bharat Electronics Ltd, D-Link India Ltd and Paper Ltd and Sterlite Technologies Ltd.

Over the last few years, the Indian electronics industry saw a period of high growth with rapid surge in domestic consumption. The country has become one of the world’s largest markets for mobile phones, computer hardware and other consumer appliances in the last five years. However, around 65% of the country’s market demand was met through imports. The government is trying to reduce this high import dependency in the sector by focusing on production of value-added electronic products domestically. It has launched various policies and schemes in recent years including National Policy on Electronics (NPE-2012), Electronic Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) Scheme, Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (M-SIPS) and the recently launched ‘Make in India’ campaign to stimulate electronics manufacturing.

Electronics was one of the sectors which were not much affected by the country’s industrial slowdown during FY13-14 as far as demand is concerned. The credit goes to the consumer electronics segment which has recorded double digit growth during this period and has compensated for the decline witnessed in other segments. Flat panel display TV, smartphones and tablets are leading the way for the consumer electronics segment. But majority of the demand for these products are being met through imports which is straining the country’s trade balance. Global players dominate the Indian electronics market, while domestic companies have not been able to reap the benefits of the huge demand growth.

Going forward, we expect further growth and development in the Indian electronics manufacturing sector and a reduction in excessive dependence on imports. The demand, however, is not expected to fall anytime soon. The ever growing love of Indian consumers for devices like smartphones, tablets and LED TVs and their rising incomes bode well for this sector.

Key Points:

• Indian total electronic hardware production grew at a CAGR of 14% during the last seven years. Around 20% of the total production was exported to other countries.

• The largest contribution to the electronics production in FY15 came from consumer electronics segment, accounting for 29% of the total. It was followed by electronic components with 21%. Together, these two segments accounted for around half of the industry’s entire production turnover.

• Majority of domestic demand for electronic products are being met through imports which is straining the country’s trade balance. Electronic imports grew at a CAGR of 11% during 2007-15. As a result, electronics has emerged as one of the largest trade deficit creating sectors after oil and gas.