Central Government’s Losses from Grey Market TV Sellers Could Reach $2 Billion
The Central government is facing potential losses of $2 billion from unregulated grey market television (TV) sellers in the coming future, as shared by Super Plastronics (SPPL) based in Noida.
SPPL, the brand licensee of Thomson, Kodak, and Blaupunkt in India, highlighted the challenges organized brands and OEMs are dealing with. Avneet Singh Marwah, CEO of SPPL, expressed concerns about potential tax losses and the impact of unorganized trade on the government.
These grey market sellers mainly operate in the entry-level TV segment, causing pressure on the top market players. Issues like loss of customs duties due to unorganized trade call for regulatory interventions by agencies like the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Industry executives noted that these traders often import electronic components from countries such as China, assemble them in locations like Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar, and sell unbranded TVs in rural markets where brand authenticity awareness is low.
Marwah mentioned that SPPL currently holds a 6% market share, aiming for 7% by 2026 with the introduction of premium large-screen models featuring display and audio innovations.
Thomson recently launched mini-LED TVs with a 108W speaker system, QD 4K displays, powered by Google TV, priced between ₹61,999 to ₹95,999.
While the TV market was slow in the first half of 2025, upcoming festivals and the replacement cycle could drive recovery in the second half. Market experts attribute the stagnation to pandemic purchases and foresee a turnaround starting in H2 2025.
Counterpoint Research predicts a modest 4% growth in the Indian TV market for 2025, with recovery expected in the latter part of the year. The demand for premium and large-screen TVs is projected to increase, while smaller 32-inch TVs may see a decline.
AI-enabled smart TVs are gradually gaining traction in the market, offering advanced features such as adaptive picture and sound, and multilingual voice assistants.
