India: Mobile phone export grows over 8-fold to USD 1.58 billion in 2018-19

Mobile handset exports grew over eight-fold to Rs 11,200 crore (USD 1.58 billion) in 2018-19 and exceeded imports for the first time, industry body Indian Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) said in a note.

Handset exports during April-July 2019 reached around Rs 7,000 crore, thereby creating grounds to hit annual figure of Rs 25,000 crore in the current fiscal, according to the ICEA.

"The Mobile handset manufacturing industry is continuing its juggernaut. 800 per cent year-on-year growth in exports has been witnessed during 2018-19 over 2017-18 figures though on a small base. This is a humble but robust beginning for a glorious future which bodes well for the nation," ICEA Chairman Pankaj Mohindroo said in the note.

The government has set "Net Zero imports" in electronics by 2020 under Digital India roadmap released in August 2014.

For mobile handset segment alone, the government under the National Policy on Electronics 2019 has set target of making 100 crore mobile handsets indigenously by 2025 with value of around Rs 13 lakh crore.