Corona Crisis India Toy Biz Takes A Tumble

With no let-up in the Coronavirus outbreak in China, India’s toy industry has been badly hit. Traders have no way to replenish dwindling stocks as they are too dependent on the neighbouring country for their supplies.

- Joe C Mathew in New Delhi

Since electronic components are also mostly imported from China, Indian manufacturers of battery-operated toys or toys containing battery-operated parts are also in trouble.

“The epidemic has affected toy business in the country as most stockists import from China. The import of toys is zero now with stockists, distributors and retailers dependent on products left in their warehouses. The situation will remain the same for the next four to five weeks,” said Satish Sundra, the owner of an old toy shop in Delhi’s Connaught Place.

Unless China resumes production, and fresh consignments reach Indian shores, there is a medium-term production and supply crisis.

“China factories were shut for New Year from the first week of January. The last time we loaded our containers (not just for toys sector, but in general) was perhaps on January 15. Containers shipped from China must have already reached India. There will be no more arrivals for another three months now,” Vipin Nijhawan, vice-president, Toy Association of India (TAI) said.

Nijhawan, a prominent-Delhi based toy importer and manufacturer, said almost 70 per cent of his stocks are sold out. “If you don't have enough varieties (of toys) you cannot sell, so it is a bit difficult to sell the balance. Even if everything goes well in China, next stocks will start arriving only by April-end or the first week of May. Till then we will have a supply constraint,” he said.