Global Electronics Manufacturing Shift Calculator
Estimate how China's share of global electronics manufacturing may shift to India based on current growth trends. Enter values below to see projected timeline when India could surpass China in production volume.
Projected Manufacturing Shift
Based on current trends: India's production grows at {indiaGrowth}% annually while China's declines at {chinaDecline}% annually.
Note: This simplified model assumes constant growth rates. Actual shifts may vary based on policy changes, supply chain disruptions, and market fluctuations. Data based on article metrics: China currently produces 70% of global electronics, India's production grew 2,200% from 2020-2024.
When you buy a smartphone, laptop, or TV, chances are it was made in China. But that’s not the whole story anymore. Over the last five years, the global electronics manufacturing map has shifted. Factories once packed into Shenzhen and Guangdong are now spreading across Southeast Asia, Mexico, and-most noticeably-India. So who’s really leading in electronics today? It’s not just about volume anymore. It’s about speed, scale, policy, and resilience.
China Still Builds Most Electronics-But Its Lead Is Fraying
China still produces over 70% of the world’s consumer electronics. In 2024, it shipped more than 3.2 billion smartphones, 280 million laptops, and 1.1 billion TVs. That’s more than the next five countries combined. Companies like Apple, Samsung, and Xiaomi still rely on China’s deep supply chains-thousands of component makers within a 100-mile radius of assembly plants.
But things are changing. Labor costs in southern China have doubled since 2018. Tariffs between the U.S. and China pushed many brands to look elsewhere. And geopolitical tensions made companies nervous about putting all their eggs in one basket. In 2023, Apple started moving 15% of its iPhone production out of China. By 2025, that number is expected to hit 25%. Samsung has already shifted 40% of its mobile manufacturing to Vietnam and India.
China isn’t falling behind-it’s being rerouted. The country still dominates high-end components like chips and displays. But when it comes to final assembly of mass-market gadgets, its grip is loosening.
India Is Rapidly Becoming the New Electronics Hub
India is the fastest-growing electronics manufacturing hub in the world. In 2020, India made less than $5 billion worth of electronics. By 2024, that number jumped to $110 billion. That’s a 2,200% increase in just four years.
What changed? Policy. The Indian government launched the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme in 2020, offering cash rewards to companies that increase local production. For every $100 million in additional electronics output, companies get up to $12 million back over five years. That’s not a small incentive.
Apple’s suppliers-Foxconn, Pegatron, and Wistron-built massive factories in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. By 2025, over 80% of iPhones sold in India will be made there. Samsung has been making phones in India since 2018 and now produces nearly 70% of its global smartphones there. Xiaomi, OPPO, and Vivo all follow the same path.
It’s not just phones. India now makes 60% of the world’s feature phones and 40% of its power banks. Laptops, tablets, and smartwatches are also being assembled locally. In 2024, India exported $24 billion in electronics-up from $3 billion in 2020.
Why India Is Winning the Electronics Race
India’s rise isn’t luck. It’s strategy.
Scale of labor: India has over 650 million people under 30. That’s a workforce larger than the entire population of the U.S. Wages are still low-average factory pay is around $3.50 an hour, compared to $5.50 in Vietnam and $8 in China.
Domestic market: India is the world’s second-largest smartphone market. Making products locally means avoiding import taxes and getting faster access to consumers. A phone made in India doesn’t need to wait weeks to reach Indian stores.
Government support: The PLI scheme isn’t the only tool. India reduced import duties on key components like circuit boards and sensors. It built new industrial parks with dedicated power and water. And it simplified customs rules for electronics exports.
Supply chain growth: India now has over 300 local electronics component makers. Companies like Dixon Technologies and Texmaco are producing circuit boards, batteries, and chargers locally. That reduces dependence on China for parts.
India isn’t just assembling gadgets-it’s building the ecosystem around them.
Other Players Are Stepping Up, But Not Close Enough
Vietnam is the second-fastest growing electronics maker after India. It’s now producing over $70 billion in electronics annually. Brands like Apple, Dell, and HP have shifted some production there. But Vietnam’s population is only 100 million. It doesn’t have India’s scale or market size.
Mexico is strong in North America-bound electronics. It makes TVs, computers, and car electronics for U.S. companies. But its labor force is smaller, and it lacks the infrastructure for high-volume smartphone production.
Indonesia and Thailand are trying, but they’re stuck on low-value items like speakers and basic chargers. They haven’t cracked the code for complex assembly like smartphones or laptops.
South Korea and Japan still lead in making the chips and screens that go inside devices-but they don’t do final assembly at scale. Taiwan dominates semiconductor manufacturing, but not consumer electronics packaging.
No other country comes close to matching India’s combination of workforce, policy, market size, and production speed.
What This Means for Global Supply Chains
The old model-design in the U.S., make in China, sell everywhere-is breaking. The new model is regional: make it where you sell it.
Apple doesn’t just want to avoid tariffs. It wants to respond faster to demand spikes in India. If 10 million people suddenly upgrade their phones in Delhi, having factories in Bangalore means delivery in weeks, not months.
Same for Dell and HP. They’re moving laptop production from China to India and Vietnam so they can meet U.S. and European demand without shipping across oceans.
Even Chinese companies like Huawei and OPPO are setting up factories in India to avoid future trade restrictions. The world is learning: if you want to be reliable, you need more than one factory.
The Challenges India Still Faces
India isn’t perfect. It still imports 80% of its critical components-from semiconductors to lithium-ion cells. Building chip factories takes billions and years. India doesn’t yet make its own advanced processors.
Power supply in some regions is still unstable. Skilled technicians are in short supply. Logistics can be slow outside major cities.
But these aren’t dealbreakers. They’re growing pains. The government is investing $10 billion in semiconductor research. Private companies like Tata and Reliance are planning chip plants. The U.S. and Japan are partnering with India to fund tech training programs.
India’s progress isn’t about being perfect today. It’s about moving faster than anyone else.
Who’s Leading in Electronics? The Answer Is Clear
China still makes the most electronics. But leadership isn’t just about volume. It’s about momentum, policy, and future-proofing.
India is the only country growing its electronics output by over 50% per year. It’s the only one building entire ecosystems-not just assembly lines. It’s the only one with the population, market, and political will to replace China as the global hub.
By 2030, India could be making more than 30% of the world’s consumer electronics. That’s not a guess. It’s a projection based on current investment trends, export data, and factory expansion plans.
China built the foundation. India is building the next chapter.
Is India now the largest electronics manufacturer in the world?
No, China still leads in total volume, producing over 70% of global consumer electronics. But India is the fastest-growing manufacturer and is on track to become the second-largest by 2028. India’s strength lies in rapid expansion, not current scale.
Why are companies moving electronics production from China to India?
Companies are moving because of rising labor costs in China, U.S.-China trade tensions, and government incentives in India. The PLI scheme offers cash rewards for local production, and India’s large domestic market means lower shipping times and no import taxes. It’s a smarter, more resilient supply chain.
Does India make its own smartphone chips?
No, India currently imports nearly all its advanced semiconductors from Taiwan, South Korea, and the U.S. However, Tata Group and Reliance are planning India’s first semiconductor fabrication plants, with production expected to start by 2027. For now, India assembles phones using imported chips.
What percentage of iPhones are made in India now?
As of 2025, over 50% of iPhones sold globally are made in India. For the Indian market alone, nearly 95% of iPhones are manufactured locally. Apple’s suppliers-Foxconn and Wistron-operate massive factories in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Is India’s electronics industry sustainable long-term?
Yes, if current trends continue. India has the workforce, government support, and market demand to sustain growth. The key will be developing local component manufacturing and improving infrastructure. With billions in private and public investment flowing in, India is building the foundation for a lasting electronics industry.
