Mobile phones drive India’s electronics exports up 47% to $12.4b

• Non-mobile electronics exports—including solar modules, networking equipment, charger adapters, and critical components grow 36% to reach $4.9b.

India’s electronics exports have kicked off FY26 with an energetic surge, soaring 47 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter according to new industry data.

The numbers, compiled by the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), tell the story: exports hit $12.4 billion between April and June, a remarkable leap from $8.43 billion in the first quarter of the previous fiscal.

What’s powering this record-setting growth? Look no further than mobile phones. This segment alone posted a jaw-dropping 55 per cent jump, rising from $4.9 billion to an estimated $7.6 billion in just twelve months.

Meanwhile, non-mobile electronics exports—including solar modules, networking equipment, charger adapters, and critical components—also shined, growing 36 per cent to reach $4.8 billion.

With this momentum in hand, ICEA now projects that India’s electronics exports could finish the fiscal year somewhere in the $46–50 billion range. This is more than just a short-term spike—it reflects the remarkable transformation in India’s manufacturing sector over the last decade. Total production leapt from $31 billion in FY15 to $133 billion for FY25, driven by focused government strategy and a new era of state-industry coordination.

ICEA Chairman Pankaj Mohindroo celebrated the achievements so far but emphasised bigger ambitions ahead. “Congratulations to the mobile phone industry for this outstanding performance—it’s a strategic national achievement. Now comes the real climb towards global competitiveness, sustainability, and deeper value addition,” he said.

Mohindroo also noted promising traction for other sectors such as solar modules, networking devices, and components, but encouraged a sharper focus on accelerating exports for IT hardware, wearables, hearables, and consumer electronics.

Policy played a starring role in this journey. Programs like the Phased Manufacturing Programme (PMP) and Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes have played a catalytic part, incentivising local value addition and unlocking critical investments.

The foundation, according to Mohindroo, sets the stage for the next leap: “We need globally competitive Indian brands and champions across the value chain—from components to finished products. That’s the path to real long-term sovereignty in electronics.”

None of this comes from nowhere. The strong opening to FY26 follows two years of record-breaking expansion, with electronics exports jumping from $29.1 billion in FY24 to $38.6 billion in FY25.