Smartphone makers start to feel the pinch of China lockdown; Indian factories may stop production from next week

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: Top smartphone makers in India have started to feel the pinch of the extended lockdown of component factories in China, with the likes of market leader Xiaomi expecting component prices to rise as supplies have started getting hit. Retailers say the stocks of Apple iPhone 11 and 11 Pro models, which are imported, are running out as the impact of the deadly coronavirus starts to hit home in the world’s second largest smartphone market.

Industry players fear that local production of handsets may come to a complete halt starting next week in the absence of supplies from China. Analysts expect smartphone sales to fall 10-15% in the January-March