Japan-based Murata setting up its first Indian manufacturing plant in Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Japanese electronics giant Murata Manufacturing, known for its components used in iPhones and many other devices, is entering India by setting up a factory at OneHub Chennai Industrial Park in Tamil Nadu.

The company, which produces multilayer ceramic capacitors widely found in smartphones, automotive systems, and consumer electronics, plans to begin operations under a five-year lease for a 3,500-square-meter facility.

Murata aims to fully scale production by the 2026 fiscal year and will use the rental factory to assess the possibility of a larger manufacturing footprint in the country.

Murata’s new facility and plans

The new plant will focus on packaging and shipping of multilayer ceramic capacitors, with the official handover of the facility expected in February 2025.

Murata President Norio Nakajima said the project will help the company gain practical experience in running factory operations in India and prepare for future production activities. Murata already has an office in Chennai, which opened in September 2010 at the Prestige Palladium Bayan Building on Greams Road.

The company, based in Kyoto, currently makes around 60% of its multilayer ceramic capacitors in Japan and is studying how best to expand its capabilities in India.

Government support and growing electronics exports

Tamil Nadu Industries Minister T.R.B. Rajaa has welcomed Murata’s decision, saying state officials have been in discussions with the company for about a year.

He noted that Murata’s arrival follows other major global players like Corning and Jabil, boosting Tamil Nadu’s standing as a center for advanced electronics manufacturing. Rajaa also pointed out that this is a key step in the state’s plan to raise electronics exports to $100 billion.

Tamil Nadu has already seen a surge in electronics exports, becoming the largest exporter of electronics in India in the 2024 financial year with a 78% increase over the previous year. It contributed around $9.56 billion of India’s electronics exports last year and more than $6 billion in just the first six months of this year.

The minister highlighted that Murata’s presence will strengthen India’s overall manufacturing capabilities, moving beyond basic assembly to more complex operations in the supply chain.

Murata, which makes components used by companies such as Apple, Samsung, and Sony, has made headlines for its technological innovations.

Its products have been used in everything from smartphones to NASA’s Mars helicopter. Notably, the move will also encourage more manufacturers to invest in India and help shape the future of the nation’s electronics sector.