Smartphone and earbud makers import more components from Vietnam as domestic prices surge

Amid a nearly fivefold spike in memory chip prices over the past year, electronics manufacturers, especially smartphone and true wireless stereo (TWS) earbud makers, have increased imports from Vietnam, a trend that sources say is expected to accelerate this year. Industry sources told businessline that, with import duties on most items from Vietnam at zero under the India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement, companies have spent the past year taking advantage of the duty-free structure to bulk-import smartphone components and other electronics. “Components such as displays and camera modules, and even Bluetooth earbuds, are imported from Vietnam at zero duty. Interestingly, most…