India's Consumer Electronics Prices Soar Amidst Copper Surge

Consumer electronics and appliance manufacturers in India are facing increased pressure to raise prices due to rising raw material costs, a weaker rupee, and higher freight charges. The Indian rupee has depreciated by around 6.6% against the US dollar this year, making imports more expensive for manufacturers.

Copper prices have surged to $14,500 per tonne from around $8,000-$9,000 a year ago, affecting manufacturing costs for air conditioners, refrigerators, and other electrical appliances. Aluminium and tin prices have also increased by around a third between January 2025 and April 2026.

Smartphones are facing additional pressure due to tightening supplies of memory and storage chips, with Counterpoint Research estimating that average smartphone retail prices in India have increased by about 21% this year.