Indian Consumer Electronics Market To Soar

India is poised for strong growth in its consumer electronics market, according to a new report from industry analyst iSuppli. At $3.89 billion in 2006, the consumer electronics market is one of the largest segments in the electronics industry in India. The report predicts the Indian audio/video consumer electronics industry will grow to about $6.6 billion by 2011, rising at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10 percent from $4.5 billion in 2007. Several factors are leading to this growth, including rising disposable incomes for India's one-billion-plus population, increased local manufacturing and sporting events like the Cricket World Cup. Television leads the consumer electronics market there, and newer technologies like Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and Plasma Display Panel (PDP) are gaining popularity. But the Indian consumer electronics market is full of nuances and complexities. While companies have distributed free TVs to families below the poverty line, some FPD sets are available for $3,000. And even though black and white televisions are obsolete elsewhere in the world, they still sell in large numbers in India. The government's focus on developing the electronics manufacturing sector will be a key driver in market growth, according to iSuppli. Electronics production has typically accounted for a smaller portion of the overall Indian manufacturing market. There are still challenges facing the India consumer electronics industry, including infrastructural bottlenecks (in roads, power, etc) that hinder distribution, lack of technological awareness and the inability among the rural masses to afford consumer products. Yet these challenges will be addressed, according to iSuppli, and India will continue to grow as an important market for the global consumer electronics industry.