The Netherlands has emerged as the second-biggest market for India-made smartphones, pushing the United Arab Emirates (UAE) back to the third spot.
The swap of the positions between the two countries began in April and the trend continued till August. In April-August, the value of smartphone exports to the Netherlands stood at $833 million, up 92% on year. During the same period, exports to the UAE declined 25% to $777 million, according to commerce ministry data.
Till the previous fiscal, the UAE was the second-biggest market for smartphones made in India. In 2023-24, smartphone exports to the UAE were $2.57 billion, almost the same as the previous year. Exports to the Netherlands had increased 11% year-on-year to $1.18 billion in 2023-24.
Among the top 10 export markets for smartphones, the UAE is the only one where shipments have declined this year. The biggest growth market for smartphones this year is Japan (180%) and Mexico (153%). Exports to Japan and Mexico were $129 million and $125 million, respectively.
The US remains the biggest market for phones from India, accounting for 38% of the total shipments of $7.5 billion in April-August. Exports to the US grew 51% on year to $2.8 billion.
Other growth markets during April-August were Austria that showed an 89% growth to $421 million and Italy where the year-on-year growth was 60% and shipments stood at $449 million.
Among the top 10 export markets, six are in Europe, two in Asia and one each in North America and South America. The top 10 account for 87% of total exports during April-August. During the first five months of the financial year, smartphones exports grew 34% on year.