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Hard times for the hardware industry

While the software industry in India has been growing fast, times have been hard for hardware manufacturers, with the growth rate sliding to 15 per cent, the lowest the Indian industry has ever faced, according to the International Data Corporation, an international IT market research organisation.

This comes after the average 50 per cent growth during the last four fiscal years. The Indian Manufacturers Association of Information Technology put

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the dip at a more modest figure, claiming it is down to 25 per cent from the last fiscal year's 35. MAIT has the backing of the Indian hardware industry, IDC that of international industry experts.

MAIT sources said the IDC figures were wrong, since demand has been high due to competitive hardware prices and because the latest products have been reaching India at the same time as their international release.

One reason the hardware industry is struggling is believed to be the stranglehold the grey market, which has up to 50 per cent of the market, seems to be having. This sector has not been affected even this year, when the rest of the market is fighting to come back after material costs rose from 57 to 75 per cent.

-Compiled from the Indian media

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