Alarms ring at speaker, wearables, TV makers on Chinese rare-earth squeeze
It's not just electric vehicles,
China
's
export control
licensing of
rare earth metals
is creating panic among speakers, wearables, and television manufacturers who are sitting on thin supplies of
permanent magnets
with the threat of production coming to a standstill looming large, industry executives and associations said.
Among the seven rare earth metals facing restricted exports, terbium and dysprosium are critical components in neodymium-Iron-Boron (NdFeB) magnets, or permanent magnets, which is the preferred choice for high-performance, portable and compact audio products.
These magnets account for 5-7% of the bill of materials (BoM), depending on the product category, and
electronics
manufacturers in India import nearly 100% of their requirements from China, industry association ELCINA (Electronics Industries Association of India) said in a whitepaper presented to the government highlighting the issue.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
40세 미만이라면 이 매혹적인 게임을 하지 마세요
경복의 바다
플레이하기
Undo
ETtech
'Inability to procure
NdFeB magnets
may halt speaker manufacturing lines in Noida, Chennai, and Pune. OEMs may switch to importing finished speakers, reversing the gains made under Make in India,' ELCINA said.
Live Events
Shipments of magnets and even finished products with embedded magnets are being stopped at Chinese ports, pending end-use declarations. This is leading to production disruptions of speaker assembly units in India, delaying supplies to customers including domestic TV and audio brands, the industry body said.
Discover the stories of your interest
Blockchain
5 Stories
Cyber-safety
7 Stories
Fintech
9 Stories
E-comm
9 Stories
ML
8 Stories
Edtech
6 Stories
Arjun Bajaj, director at TV maker Videotex, confirmed that there have been delays from their supplier side due to non-availability and delayed shipments of permanent magnets from China. This has disrupted their product roadmap, fuelling the search for alternatives and solutions.
'We are working closely with our suppliers to ensure adequate stock for the upcoming season, thereby maintaining production continuity.' Bajaj said. "Additionally, based on supplier guidance, we are actively exploring alternative solutions such as ferrite magnets, which offer reasonable performance trade-offs," he added.
Another TV manufacturer Super Plastronics Pvt. Ltd. that sources speakers from Indian contract manufacturers, said Chinese exporters have been waiting for over 60 days for license approval.
'If imports are impacted, consumers will suffer on sound quality as there is no alternative with that compact size to have that kind of sound output,' said Avneet Singh Marwah, CEO at SPPL.
Speaker maker Sunvoice Electronics currently has only one month's stock till July, which is sufficient for current production, but will bring production to a halt unless its customers approve the use of inferior alternatives such as ferrite magnets.
'We will not be able to manufacture speakers. We have started looking for alternatives such as ferrite magnets, even though they are of inferior quality, as a short-term mitigation strategy. For standalone loud-speakers, magnets make up almost 50% of the cost of production,' said Chacko Mathew, CMD, Sunvoice Electronics, which supplies to Dixon Technologies, Videotex, Panasonic and more.
'But this is a compromise. Ferrite magnets, while cheaper, are also heavier and do not offer the same sound quality as Neodymium,' he added.
Speaker manufacturers and importers have approached the government for end-use certificates required as part of the Chinese exporter's license approval process where they must provide extensive traceability documentation.
Ashok Chandak, president, India Electronics and Semiconductors Association (IESA), said the current situation can be partially blamed on Indian manufacturers who ignored the risk back in 2020.
"While several countries, including India, possess reserves of critical minerals, the lack of local processing capabilities—largely due to economic viability and limited market size (often just a few hundred million USD per material)—has led to an overdependence on imports," he said.
Following the announcement of export control in April, prices of China-origin magnets have increased by 15% due to tightened supply, Mathew said, adding that ongoing negotiations with suppliers indicate that if import resumes, costs will remain elevated.
However, prices of permanent magnets almost double when sourced from Japan, Vietnam, and even when procuring recycled magnets from Indian companies, while availability is limited and inconsistent, according to a price analysis done by ELCINA.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
30 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Swiggy pilots travel and lifestyle concierge app Crew
Swiggy has launched a travel and lifestyle concierge app, Crew, on a pilot basis, according to information about the app published on Google Play Store. This marks the Bengaluru-based company's entry into a new business after food delivery, dining out, quick commerce and professional services. The app, which involves human concierges in addition to generative artificial intelligence (AI), helps users plan trips, going beyond simply suggesting itineraries.A Swiggy spokesperson did not comment on the year, ahead of its initial public offering (IPO), the company had started testing Rare Life, a personalised concierge service focused on elite and exclusive experiences. However, this project was discontinued after Swiggy decided not to scale it up beyond a small cohort. In January, the company rolled out professional services marketplace Pyng, signalling that it was following a house of apps strategy similar to Chinese tech giants Alibaba and Meituan, which have also had multiple apps for various services. This is in contrast to the 'superapp' strategy, where consumers are expected to come for one basic use-case and transact across multiple services. Also, superapps are yet to see any noteworthy success at scale in Crew and Pyng, Swiggy now has the main app, which houses food delivery, quick commerce, dining out and its events platform Scenes. The quick commerce unit, Instamart, also got a separate app in launch of Crew was first reported by Entrackr. Swiggy recently suspended its peer-to-peer parcel delivery service Genie, which was available in 70 cities. The company has also licenced its cloud kitchen brands to food service outfit Kouzina, with plans to fully transfer these businesses upon fulfilment of certain conditions. On Friday, Swiggy shares ended 3.1% higher at Rs 385.90 on the BSE.
India.com
38 minutes ago
- India.com
QS World Rankings 2026: From IIT Delhi To Anna University- Check List of Top 10 Indian Universities
photoDetails english 2919121 The QS World University Rankings 2026, released on Thursday, highlight the performance of over 1,500 universities across more than 100 countries, reflecting key trends in global higher education. While the United States maintains its strong presence, universities from Asia and Europe have shown significant improvement. India has once again marked its global academic presence in the QS World University Rankings 2026, with IIT Delhi leading the list at Rank 123, followed closely by IIT Bombay and IIT Madras. Scroll down to check the list of Indian Institutes Updated:Jun 20, 2025, 05:40 PM IST IIT Delhi - Rank 123 1 / 10 IIT Delhi stands out as one of India's most prestigious engineering and research institutes. Known for its amazing research, innovation, and strong industry collaborations, it offers top-tier programs in engineering, technology, and management. And its high global ranking reflects a strong academic reputation, and a vibrant campus environment that attracts talent from across the world. IIT Bombay - Rank 129 2 / 10 Located in Powai, Mumbai, IIT Bombay is globally renowned for excellence in engineering, science, and technology education. It has a vibrant culture, excellent placement records, and a best faculty. The institute is a hub for technological innovation and frequently partners with global institutions and industries for research and development. IIT Madras - Rank 180 3 / 10 IIT Madras, located in Chennai, has earned an excellent reputation for its interdisciplinary research, academic rigor, and their focus on sustainable development. It is particularly recognized for its strong programs in mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering. IIT Kharagpur - Rank 215 4 / 10 It is the oldest IIT, IIT Kharagpur has a rich heritage and an expansive campus. It offers a wide range of courses in engineering, law, management, and architecture. Known for its innovation-driven ecosystem and strong alumni network, it also has one of the largest tech fests in Asia named "Kshitij'. IISc Bangalore - Rank 219 5 / 10 The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) is India's premier research institution, particularly in the fields of science, engineering, and advanced technologies. Located in Bangalore, it has a research-intensive curriculum and is a leader in scientific innovation and postgraduate studies. IISc consistently ranks high in global research citations and academic impact. IIT Kanpur - Rank 222 6 / 10 IIT Kanpur is celebrated for its academic excellence, strong emphasis on research, and a liberal academic structure that allows students to explore diverse interests. The institute is especially strong in aerospace, computer science, and electrical engineering, and contributes significantly to India's technological growth. University of Delhi - Rank 328 7 / 10 The University of Delhi (DU) is one of India's largest and most prestigious universities, known for its humanities, commerce, and science programs. With a rich legacy, diverse student body, and influential alumni network, DU maintains a strong academic reputation and provides a comprehensive educational experience beyond technical fields. IIT Guwahati - Rank 334 8 / 10 IIT Guwahati is known for its beautiful campus and fast-rising global reputation. It offers cutting edge programs in engineering and science and has a growing reputation for research in data science, AI, and nanotechnology. It's among the younger IITs that have quickly established a global presence. IIT Roorkee - Rank 339 9 / 10 IIT Roorkee, originally established as the Thomason College of Civil Engineering in 1847, is one of the oldest engineering institutions in Asia. It has strengths in civil engineering, hydrology, and disaster management and plays a pivotal role in infrastructure research and development in India. Anna University - Rank 465 10 / 10 Anna University, based in Tamil Nadu, is known for its robust engineering programs and widespread affiliations with technical colleges across the state. The university has contributed significantly to technical education in South India and continues to make strides in research and innovation, particularly in computer science and electronics.
The Print
40 minutes ago
- The Print
New Delhi-Dhaka must reimagine ties as ‘strategic necessity for collective growth'—Bangladesh envoy
Riaz in his speech touched upon the soft dimensions of India-Bangladesh ties—language, culture and education. With thousands of Bangladeshi students studying in India, and an organic exchange of ideas and people across the two countries' 4,096-kilometre shared land border, he said the bilateral relationship was not merely geopolitical but personal. The remarks come at a time when ties between New Delhi and Dhaka have been tense for months. New Delhi: Bangladesh and India must reimagine bilateral and regional cooperation, not as a legacy of the past, but as a strategic necessity for collective growth and resilience, said M. Riaz Hamidullah, Bangladesh's High Commissioner to India, during a wide-ranging speech at the neighbouring country's belated national day celebration in New Delhi Thursday evening. 'Our collaboration cannot be judged solely by the memoranda signed or the meetings held,' he noted. 'We aspire for a peaceful and prosperous neighbourhood that upholds universal values while also protecting national interests.' 'Bound by shared geography, shared ecology, and a shared linguistic and cultural heritage, our two peoples embrace each other with respect and dignity,' Riaz added. 'Not just because we share the largest land boundary; our people engage organically, not merely as a matter of choice.' He further asserted that 'Bangladesh's ties with India are historic, deep and multilayered. Bangladesh is open and engaged with India to address diverse issues of the present and future'. Riaz noted that bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh grew in double digits in the fiscal gone by and said Dhaka sees the India-Bangladesh partnership as an engine for broader regional development, referencing the sub-regional energy agreement through which Nepal has begun transmitting 40 megawatts of electricity to Bangladesh via the Indian grid. 'These mutually gainful tasks are already in place,' Riaz said. 'It is this understanding that asks our two nations to reimagine bilateral and regional cooperation, not as a legacy of the past, but as a strategic necessity for our collective growth and resilience.' Highlighting Bangladesh's priorities under its chairmanship of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), Riaz said Dhaka looks forward to 'reinvigorating the regional cooperation agenda'. The envoy underlined the country's commitment to democratic values, calling democracy one of the founding ideals that inspired Bangladesh's liberation. He spoke of the current political transition under way in Dhaka, where an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus is expected to hold free and fair elections early next year. He further emphasised that the future of Bangladesh lies in transformation: empowering the young to define their destiny and build a democracy that is not only electorally functional but socially inclusive. Riaz ended on a personal note, recounting his meeting last month with Raghu Rai—the Indian photojournalist who documented the Bangladesh Liberation War and was awarded the Padma Shri in 1972 for his powerful imagery. 'His work captured our agony, our struggle, and reminded me that the humanism of 1971 still binds us,' he said. 'Today, some of the war veterans from 1971 are with us in this hall. Their sacrifices must never be forgotten.' 'The friendship between Bangladesh and India must continue to fly forward, rooted in history, yet reaching ambitiously into the future,' Riaz concluded. (Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui) Also Read: After Operation Sindoor, why India must keep an eye on Bangladesh too
