WHITE GOODS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: Recently, white goods, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and FMCG companies have encountered import delays and higher duties as customs authorities at various ports hold up consignments due to third-party invoicing issues.

White Goods

• About: These are large home appliances such as stoves (British: cookers), refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, tumble driers, dishwashers, and air conditioners. 

oThey are large electrical goods for the house which were traditionally available only in white. 

oEven though you can purchase them today in a wide range of different colors, they continue being called white goods.

• Major appliances:Consumer durables made of enamel-coated sheet steel – are the same as white goods.
• White goods vs. brown goods

oThe term contrasts with brown goods, which are relatively light electronic consumer durables such as computers, digital media players, TVs and radios.

• Interconnected White Goods:

oWhite goods, including appliances like refrigerators, are increasingly becoming interconnected through the Internet.

oThe trend involves these appliances collecting and exchanging data, contributing to the Internet of Things (IoT).