Mobile Phone Shipments Contribute To Surge In India's Electronics Exports

The export of electronics goods from India has surpassed readymade garments, a traditional mainstay, according to recent data released by the Commerce Department.

The surge in shipment of mobile phones contributed to the increase as latest estimates indicate that electronics exports rose by over 50 per cent in 2022-23 to $23.6 billion, while the export of readymade garments went up by 1 per cent to $16.3 billion during the same period.

Electronics products were ranked sixth in export items, just below the $25.4-billion drugs and pharmaceuticals, which are among the major products shipped out from India.

Mobile phone exports exceeded $11 billion.

However, there remains a gap between the export and import of this product category, with India remaining a net importer.

Nonetheless, the gap is reducing, and government officials have argued that some electronics goods need to be shipped into the country to meet the requirements of the information technology (IT) and IT-enabled services industry.

Imports of electronics goods increased by about 5 per cent to $77.3 billion in the previous fiscal year, making it the second-largest item in the country's import basket.