Electronics makers enter standby mode

Several electronics makers are reconsidering local expansion and scouting alternative overseas markets as the latest US tariffs negate India’s earlier pricing edge over China, although key items – such as smartphones, tablets and laptops – remain exempted from the 50% levies announced so far.

Munoth Industries, which makes lithium-ion cells for power banks in India, had inked a definitive agreement in January with US-based Anker to supply cells for power banks to be sold in the US. Munoth had earmarked a fourth of its capacity to supply 500,000-1 million cells a month to the US.