India imported nearly $40 billion worth of electronic components in FY26: CRISIL data

CHENNAI: As India intensifies domestic production of electronic products, data indicated that the country's import dependence on electronic components has gone up substantially.

Key points

• The report additionally mentioned that among inputs, import dependence is high for electrical cables and wires (36.9%), organic chemicals (36.5%), batteries (29.7%), and plastic products (23.9%).
• By contrast, dependence is relatively low for iron and steel (6%), construction inputs (9%), rubber products (12.3%).
• The data indicated that electronic products remained among the top three import-intensive manufacturing industries, importing 29.8% of total supply.
• "However, as domestic manufacturing of components expands, direct dependence on semiconductors and critical minerals could rise unless domestic production scales up accordingly, " the report remarked.
• "Building resilience, therefore, requires diversifying import sources, strengthening strategic reserves, particularly energy, and expanding domestic production capacity wherever feasible."

Data from CRISIL Ltd indicated that India imported $30 billion worth of electronic integrated circuits, followed by records & tapes ($5.3 billion), semiconductors and electric accumulators ($4.9 billion each), electric circuit apparatus ($2.1 billion) in FY26.

Notably, the data indicated that electronic products remained among the top three import-intensive manufacturing industries, importing 29.8% of total supply. This dependence is driven primarily by electronic components. According to official trade statistics, electronic components, including chips and semiconductors, accounted for the highest net imports by value among all electronics imports in fiscal 2026.

India's electronics imports 2.4 times exports, industry seeks higher value addition, dedicated clusters The report additionally went on that India's dependence on rare earth minerals is at present indirect as the country largely imports finished components. "However, as domestic manufacturing of components expands, direct dependence on semiconductors and critical minerals could rise unless domestic production scales up accordingly, " the report remarked.

According to The report additionally, since of rising geopolitical tensions and trade protectionism, dependence on critical products risks creating supply shocks, which could simultaneously weigh on expansion and fuel inflation. "Building resilience, therefore, requires diversifying import sources, strengthening strategic reserves, particularly energy, and expanding domestic production capacity wherever feasible."

Meanwhile, the report additionally mentioned that among inputs, import dependence is high for electrical cables and wires (36.9%), organic chemicals (36.5%), batteries (29.7%), and plastic products (23.9%).

By contrast, dependence is relatively low for iron and steel (6%), construction inputs (9%), rubber products (12.3%). Sectors most exposed to imported inputs include electronics and pharmaceuticals.

In short, india imported nearly $40 billion worth of electronic components in FY26: CRISIL is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.