India is emerging as a key global manufacturing and export hub for Chinese smartphone and electronics companies, marking a major shift in global supply chains. Brands like Oppo, Realme, Lenovo, and Motorola have begun exporting smartphones and electronic devices from their Indian manufacturing bases to regions including West Asia, Africa, and even the United States.
This shift is the result of India’s aggressive push to promote local manufacturing under its Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes, a rise in local component sourcing, and the government’s broader ambition to position India as a global electronics manufacturing center. According to government and industry sources, Chinese brands are now seeing India not just as a consumption market, but also as a strategic export base.
Oppo and Realme Lead the Export Push
Smartphone manufacturers Oppo and Realme—both owned by China’s BBK Electronics—are at the forefront of this transformation. According to a report by The Economic Times (June 2025), Oppo exported smartphones worth over ₹10,000 crore in the fiscal year 2024–25, with West Asia and Africa being key markets. Realme has also begun shipping Made-in-India devices to various countries and has reported double-digit growth in export revenue.
Oppo’s manufacturing plant in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, has been operating at increased capacity, with over 50% of its output now allocated for exports. Realme, too, has scaled up its local production facilities, collaborating with partners like Dixon Technologies to meet international demand.
A senior executive from one of the companies told ET: “India has evolved into a strong alternative manufacturing base to China, especially after global brands began looking to diversify supply chains post-COVID and amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.”
Lenovo and Motorola Expand Global Reach via India
Lenovo and its smartphone subsidiary Motorola are also leveraging India as a global supply base. Lenovo, which manufactures tablets and laptops in India, is now exporting these devices to the Middle East and parts of Africa. Motorola, whose mobile phones are made in India through a collaboration with Bharat FIH (a Foxconn unit), has started exporting smartphones to the US and Latin America.
Motorola has reportedly seen a 40% jump in exports year-on-year, and sources indicate that new export markets will be added in the coming months. The move reflects India’s growing reputation for producing high-quality electronic goods at globally competitive prices.
Government Support Fuels the Trend
The Indian government’s PLI schemes for mobile phones and electronics, which offer financial incentives to manufacturers based on output and export performance, have played a pivotal role in encouraging these companies to ramp up their local investments.
India’s Commerce and Industry Ministry recently confirmed that smartphone exports from India crossed $15 billion (around ₹1.25 lakh crore) in FY24, a record figure driven significantly by Chinese and US brands.
The government has also simplified regulations for electronics exports and created electronic manufacturing clusters with plug-and-play infrastructure, making it easier for global brands to establish large-scale production.
India’s Rise as a Global Export Hub
India’s rise in the global electronics value chain reflects a broader strategic shift. With rising wages in China, global supply chain disruptions, and political tensions between China and Western countries, Indian manufacturing is being seen as a viable and sustainable alternative.
According to Counterpoint Research, India now ranks among the top five smartphone exporters globally, a significant leap from just a few years ago. Exports are expected to grow further as more global and Chinese companies invest in expanding capacity.
With brands like Xiaomi also eyeing exports in the near future, and Apple already making India a key part of its global supply chain, the country’s ambition of becoming a global electronics manufacturing powerhouse is steadily becoming a reality.
Sources:
- The Economic Times, June 2025: “Oppo, Realme see export surge from India”
- Counterpoint Research: “India’s smartphone export growth trends”
- Government of India, Ministry of Commerce & Industry – PLI scheme updates and export figures
