The Silicon Review ^Asia

New reports have revealed that last year, India imported mobile components worth $13 billion. The reports were produced by Counterpoint Research on Monday.

Reports stated that India doesn’t source too many high-value components. During 2018, the local value index of the country was 17% due to the above-citied reason. But it helped the country to save $2.5B in forex. Because of high assembly operations in India, it’s imports of mobile components shooted up to $13billlion.

The reports also stated that there has been a delay in the implementation of customs duties under phase three because the government is running behind schedule. The customs duties target motor ringer, touch panels, display assembly, cover glass assembly, etc.

The sourcing of foreign chips locally can only be done in the next four to five years. The sourcing is only possible if there is a boost in the low-valued components market and export incentives comes into effect. The sources are associated with ET.

In 2018, Reliance Jio was catching up to the government’s PMP, a manufacturing programme. Moreover, 40% of the handsets were imported.

Chinese phone makers such as OPPO, Xiaomi,and Vivo have shifted better from semi-knocked down (SKDs) to entirelyknock down units (CKDs).

Although Reliance Jio would only assemble, it intends to expand their local manufacturing operations.

The country imported half of its handsets as SKDs in 2018 while the percentage of CKDs imports wereonly 34%.