Consumer electronics exports during 2002-03 crossed Rs 750 crore (Rs 7.50 billion) according to an estimate by the Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council.

This was a growth of 7.14 per cent over the year before that and a 100 percent increase from Rs 370 crore (Rs 3.70 billion) during 1997-98.

West Asian countries continued to be the most important destination for export accounting for 36 per cent of the total exports.

In value terms, goods exported to this region grew 31 per cent over previous year.

"This trend can be boosted further in the coming years as wages in Singapore, Japan and South Korea are getting over-heated," D.K. Sareen, executive director of ESC, said.

Other important destinations for consumer electronics exports in 2002-03 were Singapore, Hong Kong and other south-east Asian countries.

This region accounted for 29 per cent of the total exports. From Rs 190 crore (Rs 1.90 billion) in 2001-02, exports increased to Rs 217 crore (Rs 2.17 billion) registering a growth of 14 per cent.

European Union was the third most important destination for India with exports worth Rs 125 crore (Rs 1.25 billion).

This was a 111 per cent increase from Rs 59 crore (Rs 590 million) in 2001-02.

Share of US and Canada fell 53 per cent in 2002-03 over the year before that with the value of exports going down from Rs 138 crore (Rs 1.38 billion) in 2001-02, an all time high, to Rs 65 crore (Rs 650 million) in 2002-03.

"ESC is looking into the reasons for this slide so as to take corrective action. The market for these products in the US is expanding."

"The imposition of anti-dumping duties on Chinese goods by the US administration will also affect trade between the two countries. India needs to focus on penetrating this market further," Sareen said.

Other destinations for exports during 2002-03 were African countries (Rs 29 crore), Japan, Korea and Far East countries (Rs 16 crore), non-EU countries in Europe (Rs 15 crore), Russia and CIS countries (Rs 9 crore) and Australasia (Rs 6 crore).

Major export items were clocks and watches, PA systems, colour televisions, video recording or reproducing apparatus, black and white televisions, electronic calculators, electronics flashlights, recorded CD/audio and  radio communication receivers.