How basic customs duty cut on mobile phones will affect cost benefits

Basic Customs Duty (BCD) cuts on mobile phones, printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) and chargers, announced in the Union Budget 2024-25, will not move the needle much in terms of cost benefits to the end users, analysts said on Wednesday.

Experts argued that since more than 95 per cent of smartphones, and a large chunk of chargers are already being assembled or manufactured locally, the BCD cut might not make any significant change in terms of price benefits, barring some brands that import phones as completely built-up units (CBUs) in India.