Chinese CCTV camera ban shakes Hyderabad trade; Indian brand prices surge, stock piles up, sales drop

Centre’s ban on Chinese internet-enabled CCTV cameras disrupts Hyderabad’s market, hitting supply, raising prices and slowing sales at key hubs.

The Centre’s ban on the import and sale of internet-connected CCTV cameras from Chinese manufacturers has begun to reshape Hyderabad’s surveillance equipment market, with traders and installers reporting immediate disruptions in pricing, supply and customer behaviour.

At Gujarati Galli in Koti and Chenoy Trade Centre (CTC) in Secunderabad, key wholesale hubs largely driven by Chinese CCTV camera sales, the impact is already visible in lower volumes, unsold stock and rising price of alternatives. The ban came into force on April 1.

The Gujrat Galli (for electronic goods) at Kothi in Hyderabad. | Photo Credit: File Photo

Om Singh, who has been running Kimpex Security Solutions in Gujarati Galli for 14 years, said the shift has been abrupt. “Before the ban, we had 20 to 25 brands. Now we are left with only one. Customers have reduced significantly because rates have increased a lot and they are not satisfied with the quality.”

He outlined the scale of the drop. “Earlier, for each of the brands like Hikvision, TP-Link and Dahua Technology, we used to sell around 2,000 to 3,000 cameras every month. Overall, I sold stock worth ₹30-40 lakh per month. At present, I have stock worth ₹15-20 lakh lying with me. I don’t know how that will be sold,” he said, adding that even large buyers are stepping back.

Across the market, traders say prices of Indian brands have increased by 10-30% since April 1. Cameras that were priced at ₹25,000 are now selling for ₹27,000-₹32,000 or more.