Virus lockdown may cut mobile shipments from China by 50%

CHENNAI: The new coronavirus triggered lockdown in China, unless lifted in the next couple of weeks, could impact supply of smartphones and personal computers to India and the rest of the world significantly. Some analysts predict smartphone shipments to India could drop by 50% and supply of PCs by 20%.

India’s smartphone market was 148 million units last year, sales driven largely by made-in-China phones. China has restricted business resumption to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Businesses in tier I cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou have delayed employees’ return from their Chinese new year break to February 9 for now. Resumption of production could be delayed further if the spread of the virus accelerates.