TV prices to rise by 12% after CPT duty

New Delhi, May 16 (UNI) Colour television prices in the country are likely to increase by as much as 12 per cent once the government levies an anti-dumping duty on imported colour picture tubes (CPTs).

Leading television manufacturers in the country have strongly opposed the government's move to impose the anti-dumping duty on imports from China, Malaysia, Korea and Thailand.

''At a time when the domestic CPT production is insufficient to meet the growing demand of the CTV industry and the industry is relying completely on imported picture tubes for slim or ultra-slim TVs, the imposition of anti-dumping duty will adversely impact the manufacturing cost of televisions in the country,'' Consumer Electronics and Appliance Manufacturers Association (CEAMA), president Ravinder Zutshi said.

The colour television market in the country is estimated to touch 12.5 million units this year, with over 70 per cent of the market volume expected to be contributed by flat TVs.

With consumer preference shifting towards flatter displays, the market for slim and ultra-slim TVs is expected to be around 0.9 to 1.0 million units this year.

Currently, the indigenous CPT industry does not manufacture 21-inch slim and ultra slim picture tubes as well as 29-inch slim picture tubes in the country.

The domestic market for CPTs grew 44 per cent from a level of 10.6 million in 2005-06 to 15.3 million units in 2006-07.

However , the production capacity of domestic CPT manufacturers Samtel and JCT Electronics is only about 10 million units which leads to a shortfall of more than five millions which has to be met through imports.

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