India becomes world’s third largest mobile exporter at Rs. 1,77,141 crore (US$ 20.5 billion): Study

India has undergone a remarkable transformation in less than a decade, evolving from an import-dependent mobile phone market into the world’s third-largest exporter. Mobile phone exports touched Rs. 1,77,141 crore (US$ 20.5 billion) in CY24, driven by key policy interventions and deeper integration into global value chains (GVCs), according to a recent study by the Centre for Development Studies (CDS). The shift began around 2017 and gained momentum with the launch of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme in 2020, which encouraged large-scale electronics manufacturing. Exports have since overtaken domestic consumption, a rare achievement among developing economies. In 2024-25, mobile exports stood at Rs. 2,08,248 crore (US$ 24.1 billion), up from just Rs. 1,728 crore (US$ 200 million) in 2017-18, a staggering rise of over 11,950%. The sector has also consistently recorded a positive net export trend since 2018-19, indicating long-term structural improvements.
The report highlights a significant rise in Domestic Value Addition (DVA), which reached 23% of production value in 2022-23, exceeding Rs. 86,410 crore (US$ 10 billion). Direct DVA rose by 283% to Rs. 39,749 crore (US$ 4.6 billion) between 2019-20 and 2022-23, while indirect DVA, through component suppliers and service providers, grew over sixfold to Rs. 28,515 crore (US$ 3.3 billion). Employment in the sector has expanded to over 17 lakh jobs, with export-linked employment growing more than 33 times. Wages in export-oriented roles have also improved, indicating inclusive growth. The study recommends continuing an outward-oriented industrial policy, improving logistics, addressing tariff inefficiencies, and focusing on scale before deep localisation. With the right policy mix and sustained GVC integration, India is well-positioned to replicate this model across the broader electronics sector and emerge as a global production hub.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.