The Test & Measurement Instruments (TMI) industry inIndia has experienced a haphazard growth. Traditionally, the top-end of themarket has been catered to by the MNCs, while Indian suppliers catered to thelower-end users. All the major MNCs had initially planned to set upmanufacturing facilities in India. But many factors—government policies, lowdemands, severe price competition, and worldwide recession—forced them tostick to the import and trade method.

Things have changed recently. While there were only 10-15brands in the country initially, today there are about 30-35 names. A closemarket study reveals that TMI has finally emerged from the shadows as anindustry in itself. There have been aggressive moves by many players and themarket has witnessed realignment of market shares.

Market Size

Total size of the TMI market for telecom was about $75million in 1998-99 and $73.85 million in 1999-00. The market for general purposeinstruments was $17.90 million in 1998-99 and 1999-00, respectively. One of themajor setbacks to the industry has been the US embargo on sales to about 200defense establishments for offensive and ballistic applications.

The total market saw a marginal drop of 1.54 percent giventhe turnover from 1998-99 to 1999-00 of the
11 major players. Only routine sales are permitted.

The numero uno HP-Agilent has seen a substantial drop of 30percent in its turnover from 1998-99 to 1999-00. Its overall share went downfrom 30 percent to around 21 percent. And its loss has been the gain ofvirtually every other company especially WWG, Tektronix, and Rhode &Schwarz. However, Anritsu, like Agilent, has lost out to others, seeing itsmarket share drop to 2.71 in 1999-00 percent from 4.47 percent in 1998-99.

There are large numbers of players who cater to othersegments like process control, analytical, automotive, medical, textile, etc.National Instruments, Toshbro, Toshniwal, Tata Honewel, Rosemount, Fischer,E&H, Hitachi, etc. who have not been
included in the survey have sizeable turnovers as well. If the entire T&Mindustry’s market size were to be pegged, it would be around $125 million.