New Delhi, Beijing, Hong Kong, San Diego, Buenos Aires, London, Seoul – October 25, 2022

Global cellular IoT module outsourced manufacturing accounted for 52.4% of total IoT module shipments in H1 2022, according to the latest research from Counterpoint’s Global IoT Module Manufacturing Tracker. In terms of global cellular IoT module manufacturing, original design manufacturers (ODM) saw the fastest growth in H1 2022 at 45% YoY, followed by electronics manufacturing services (EMS) at 30% and in-house manufacturing at 21%. After declining in Q1 2022, the global cellular IoT module market recovered in Q2 2022, despite macroeconomic headwinds and lockdowns in China, the largest IoT market.

Speaking on ODMs and EMSs, Senior Analyst Ivan Lam said, “In the past few years, leading Chinese OEMs have grown significantly in size. They have experience in managing supply chain partners and manufacturing allies. Leading OEMs have brought in multiple supplier policies to maintain their cost competitiveness, which gives them an advantage in terms of cost offering”.

Source: Counterpoint Global Cellular IoT Module and Chipset Tracker by Application, Q2 2022

The top 10 ODM/EMS players captured two-thirds of IoT module outsourced manufacturing in H1 2022. The leading ODM/EMS suppliers for IoT module manufacturing, such as BYD Electronics, TDG-Tech and Qisda, are mainly from Mainland China and Taiwan. At the same time, leading traditional EMS companies, such as Zollner, Jabil and USI, are also helping the top IoT module OEMs in their global expansion.

Lam added, “Manufacturing cost is still one of the key elements of an IoT module’s cost structure, apart from the cost of the components. Leading OEMs are growing rapidly in China and they are likely to predominantly hire manufacturing partners that have production sites within the country. However, we observed that OEMs also hired EMSs with global production sites, such as production facilities in Mexico or Brazil to cater to the North America and LATAM markets. We forecast the manufacturing capacity utilization in India, Southeast Asia and LATAM will continue to grow given the significant increase in IoT module applications in these markets.”

Commenting on the outlook for IoT module manufacturing, Senior Analyst Soumen Mandal said, “We are expecting outsourced manufacturing shipments to grow at a CAGR of 17% between 2021 and 2026. The soaring IoT module market, driven by innovation and digital transformation, especially in the enterprise segment, will play a pivotal role in IoT module manufacturing. IoT module players may focus on building platforms and services instead of manufacturing IoT modules as they present recurring revenue generation opportunities. This will also be an opportunity for ODM/EMS players to increase their footprint in the IoT module market. However, module players will try to increase control over the supply chain and look for vertical integration even for small components. This will help IoT module players reduce costs and remain competitive in the market. With higher demand in the market, top OEM players are also looking to expand their EMS supplier base to tap global markets.”

The comprehensive and in-depth “Global Cellular IoT Module Manufacturing Tracker – H1 2022” is now available for purchase at report.counterpointresearch.com.

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Counterpoint Technology Market Research is a global research firm specializing in products in the TMT (technology, media and telecom) industry. It services major technology and financial firms with a mix of monthly reports, customized projects and detailed analyses of the mobile and technology markets. Its key analysts are seasoned experts in the high-tech industry.

Ivan is a Senior Research Analyst at Counterpoint Research, based in Hong Kong. Ivan has more than 10 years of experience with a major focus on mobile and network devices. He had spent years in southeast Asia markets associated with business development, brand management, and channel management. Besides the expertise in Southeast Asia, he’s also well connected with ODM and OEM sectors. Prior to joining Counterpoint Research, Ivan served TCL Communications, KaiOS Technology Inc., Wiko Mobile, mainly leading business development, Go-to-Market, and strategic planning. Ivan holds a Master's degree in Business Administration from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

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