ECWC 10 - call for papers

Taiwan is expected to ship about 10 million liquid crystal display (LCD) TV sets in 2006, compared with about 5.6 million units this year, according to PIDA (Photonic Industry & Technology Development Association) senior analyst Wang Hsin-yang.

According to Wang, LCD TVs should provide major revenue-growth momentum for both home appliance and information technology (IT) companies in Taiwan.

Statistics compiled by DisplaySearch, a well-known flat panel display (FPD) market research and consulting firm, showed that the global demand for LCD TVs will be about 20 million units in 2005, and that the volume is expected to jump to more than 35 million units in 2006. The LCD TV, according to the consulting firm, is expected to replace its cathode-ray tube (CRT) counterpart as the TV market mainstay soon.

Wang says that major local LCD TV makers such as Tatung, Quanta, Kolin, Sampo, Teco, Compal, and Ya Hsin are expected to have combined shipments of about 5.6 million units this year, and about 10 million units in 2006. The current annual domestic demand for LCD TVs is about 900,000 to one million units, he said, and LCD TVs constitute 30% of all TV sales, a figure that is expected to grow to 50% next year.

Tatung Co., a leading home-appliance and IT maker in Taiwan, pointed out that both LCD and plasma display panel (PDP) TVs would become major revenue sources for the company in 2006. Tatung aims to ship about 650,000 LCD and PDP TVs in 2006, up approximately 30% from the 500,000 units (including about 400,000 LCD TVs) this year. Tatung currently contract supplies both LCD and PDP TVs to Hitachi and JVC of Japan, and its product range has extended into mainstream TVs larger than 32 inch.

Due to the high tariff rate (23%) on imported LCD TVs, more and more international brands have found local partners to contract supply LCD TVs sold in Taiwan. Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands, for example, recently commissioned large local IT maker Quanta Computer Inc. to supply 32-inch LCD TV models for sales on the island, and Philips is expected to place more contract orders with Quanta for overseas sales in the future.

LG of South Korea has contracted local Ya Hsin to supply 32-inch LCD TVs for the domestic market, and their cooperation tie is expected to extend to 37-inch products in the future.

Kolin, a home-appliance maker, is expected to export about 300,000 LCD TVs this year, and to double the volume in 2006 to 600,000, with most going to the U.S. market. Kolin cooperates with strategic partner Syntax, which sells a large volume of LCD TVs in the U.S., Hong Kong, and mainland China.

Sampo recently contracted with local IT maker First International Computer Inc. (FIC) to supply LCD TVs, PDP TVs, and portable TVs from First International's assembly plant in the Czech Republic in a bid to escape the high tariffs on its products sold in Europe.

source & copyright: CENS