International energy management specialist Schneider Electric’s first-ever Survey on Electrical Counterfeiting in Africa has shown that cables, switches and breakers used on the continent were the electrical products that were most likely counterfeit.

The survey, which was conducted in 11 countries, also found that, in the Francophone countries, sockets were also highly counterfeited products.

More than 500 high-level officials and professionals participated in the survey.

“For the first time, all stakeholders of the African electrical market will be able to move forward, based on a solid picture of reality,” Schneider Electric anticounterfeiting global manager Tracy Garner said.

Thirty-four per cent of respondents to the survey cited China, including Taiwan and Hong Kong, as the main source of electrical counterfeit goods in Africa.

The rest of Asia (31%) came second, followed by Africa (18%) and the Middle East (13%). European countries, including Belgium, France, Germany and Spain, were in last position, with 3% of respondents citing these countries as a source of counterfeit goods.

Further, the survey found that counterfeiting of the most common electrical products was widely spread in all African countries, representing 40% to 80% of their markets. At such a scale, as interviewees of the survey stated, the negative economic impact was the first consequence both for the countries – considering the impediment for development, costs of damages or lack of revenues from taxes – and manufacturers.

“The biggest damage resulting from the use of counterfeit electrical goods was the loss of property.

“Further, the loss of performance/competitiveness was mentioned by an average of 63% of the respondents, far above death (35%), electrocutions (49%) or even accidents (51%) that may result from the use of electrical counterfeit products,” the survey noted.

“Now, having measured the impact of counterfeit [goods] on African economies and users’ safety, the urgency to act is real. Schneider Electric is committed to do its best in answering professionals’ demands and expectations expressed in the survey,” Garner concluded.