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Study Finds China Supplies 80% of India’s Electronics Imports
A study looked at the electronics India buys from China.
It found that China supplied over 80% of imports in 71 product categories during 2025-26.
This was higher than the 44 categories recorded in 2018-19.
Much of the dependence involves parts, not finished electronic products.
These parts are used in phones, telecom systems, machines and electric vehicles.
China supplied 83.6% of India’s lithium-ion battery imports.
India also had a $112.1 billion trade deficit with China.
The study said simply blocking imports would not solve the problem.
It recommended making more components in India and using partnerships where local supplies are unavailable.
China supplied more than 80% of India’s imports across 71 electronics categories in 2025-26, up from 44 categories in 2018-19.
The dependence is concentrated in components used for telecom infrastructure, consumer electronics and industrial machinery.
India’s trade deficit with China reached $112.1 billion in 2025-26, with electrical machinery accounting for $43.1 billion.
China supplied 83.6% of India’s lithium-ion battery imports, valued at $3.9 billion.
The study recommended expanding domestic component manufacturing, supported by critical-mineral policies and selective partnerships.
- Who
- India, China, Koan Advisory Group and the Institute of Chinese Studies.
- What
- A study found that China supplied more than 80% of India’s imports across 71 electronics product categories in 2025-26.
- Where
- India-China trade, focusing on products classified under Harmonized System Chapter 85.
- When
- The comparison covers 2018-19 and 2025-26.
- Why
- The study says India needs to reduce component-level dependence on China and expand domestic manufacturing.
Key facts
- Study authors
- Koan Advisory Group and the Institute of Chinese Studies
- Product scope
- Electrical and electronic equipment under Harmonized System Chapter 85
- High-dependence categories
- 71 in 2025-26, compared with 44 in 2018-19
- India-China trade deficit
- $112.1 billion in 2025-26
- Electrical machinery deficit
- $43.1 billion, or nearly 38% of the overall gap
- Lithium-ion battery imports
- India imported $3.9 billion from China, which held an 83.6% share
- Semiconductor import share
- China accounted for 48.9%, down from about 64% a year earlier
Quotes
Koan Advisory Group and Institute of Chinese Studies report
Joint authors of the study on India-China electronics trade
“As long as the components feeding Indian assembly lines continue to originate almost entirely from China, the trade deficit in this chapter will remain structurally anchored, regardless of growth in domestic electronics output.”
freepressjournal.in
“The large number of tariff lines in the 90–99 per cent band highlights how deeply embedded Chinese sourcing has become in India's electronics imports.”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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