No of competitors are maximum at which stage of the life cycle of a product?

B.  INTRODUCTORY STAGE --- This is the stage usually the brand is new +, hardly consumers are aware about the existence of such a product+, in-numerous levels of organized & non-organized competitive brands ... This stage has not only 'Maximum competition but also maximum expenses' & hardly break even in first two or three years ..& not to forget about indirect competition from substitutes, similar range selling products.(Most brands "FAIL" in this stage)

:-)

There are4 stages in the product life cycle - Initiation, Growth, Maturity, Decline.

Competitors start impacting sales during Maturity and number of competitors are maximum in the Decline Stage when sales in terms of volumes or revenue is reducing significantly. This is also the stage wherein we start innovating, technical up-gradation, withdraw or launch new products. 

Production process may be at the beginning or at maturity or at the end and the number of competitors has nothing to doE. NON OF THESE.

The number of competitors are greatest during the latter part of the Growth Stage of the PLC.  They watch the product during the introductory stage, and enter progressively as competitors to follow the first mover(s) if the product is popular/profitable. Lagging competitors will enter during the maturity stage, but by then they will get very little market share. By the declining stage, the product is no longer profitable, unless major and innovative differentiation is made to revitalize the product.

C. Maturity stage

This stage of the product life cycle often sees the highest levels of competition, it becomes increasingly challenging for companies to maintain their market share

Declining Stage.

One of the causes for this stage is due to resistance from stiff competition. 

Option B.  INTRODUCTORY STAGE

The number of Competitors are maximum at MATURITY STAGE which is the longest stage in the product life cycle and where the product is already established. In this stage the primary focus of the companies shifts in maintaining their market share as there are large number of manufacturers competing for the same market share. Thus this stage has the most amount of competition. 

I will go with option B- Introductory stage.

A.  GROWTH STAGE-later part

"When competitors enter the market, often during the later part of the growth stage......"

In introductory stage, competitors start entering into the market by developing similar products. Then in maturity stage, there are maximum number of competitors in the market.