Mumbai, Nov. 2 -- India's cable and wire demand is expected to exceed USD 400 bn by 2034, according to the Indian Electrical and Electronics Manufacturers' Association (IEEMA). The industry body made the assessment during its 10th International Conference and Exhibition on Cables, Wires & Accessories, held in Mumbai on October 27 and 28, 2026.
The event brought together manufacturers, utilities, engineering, procurement and construction companies, technology providers, researchers and policymakers. Discussions focused on grid modernisation, renewable energy integration, digitalisation, sustainable infrastructure, safety and emerging cable technologies.
Vamsi Rama Mohan Burra, chairman and managing director of Power Grid Corporation of India, identified green energy corridors, underground cabling and offshore wind developments as major growth drivers. He urged Indian companies to build domestic technological capabilities, move towards complete solutions and improve their ability to serve international markets, particularly in the Middle East and South Asia.
IEEMA president Siddharth Bhutoria said the industry had invested more than USD 4 bn over the past two years to expand capacity and develop backward and forward linkages. He said cables, wires and conductors account for about 30 per cent of the electrical industry and have grown at 15 per cent annually over the past five years, with global and domestic demand likely to expand at a 6 per cent compound annual growth rate through 2034.
Industry executives highlighted the need for investments in specialised capacity, supply-chain integration, reliability, sustainability and research. Sriram Rangarajan of Aditya Birla Wires & Cables said transmission networks could reach 650,000 ckm by 2032, while representatives of Polycab India, JSK Industries and Havells India discussed export opportunities, international quality standards, distributor investments, safety and artificial intelligence-led cable testing. Havells India said it allocates 2 per cent of revenue to research and development. The exhibition featured product displays from cable original equipment manufacturers, while technical sessions covered advanced materials, sustainable cables, system engineering, diagnostics, testing and installation performance.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.