Dependence on China components won’t down

AROUND 95 per cent of consumer electronics and appliances sold in India are produced locally, although dependence on China for components still ranges between 25-70 per cent which will be difficult to reduce overnight, according to industry body CEAMA.

Consumer Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association (CEAMA) said even before the call to boycott Chinese products, various companies had already started to look for alternative sources due to disruptions of supplies following the coronavirus-induced lockdown in China.

‘We as an industry have done a lot of work (all brands) in creating capacity in the last two-three years by putting new plants to start manufacturing of finished products across categories. We are now in a very good position across all categories in the finished goods segment,’ CEAMA President Kamal

Nandi told.

In air conditioner segment, around 30 per cent is still imported but this would have come down further had there been no lockdown as on streaming of new capacities which were being created got delayed, he said adding that ‘in the next season, it would be drastically low by all the organised players.’

Sharing the current scale of manufacturing in India in the sector, Nandi, who is also Godrej

Appliance Business Head and Executive Vice President, said, ‘more than 95 per cent of products, which we sell in the country is produced in the country and the same is the case with Godrej Appliances.’

However, the dependence on China for components is still there and it varies from 25 per cent to 70 per cent from category to category. The least is washing machines and the highest is for the air conditionershe said.