Sales of liquid-crystal displays (LCDs) used in flat-panel monitors, televisions and notebook computer displays rose 31 percent in the second quarter after Samsung Electronics Co, Sharp Corp and their rivals were unable to keep up with demand, an industry researcher said.
Sales rose to a record 23.1 million units in the period, gaining 15 percent from the preceding three months, Austin, Texas-based DisplaySearch said in a release.
A shortage of supply in the market resulted in a 7 percent gain in the average selling price, lifting revenue to US$5.2 billion.
BRIGHT OUTLOOK
"The third quarter outlook is even brighter for large area thin-film transistor liquid-crystal display suppliers, with anticipated notebook panel demand unexpectedly strong," the report said.
LG Philips LCD Co and other makers are profiting as consumers trade in their bulky glass tube-based monitors, switch to notebook computers and opt for the space-savings offered by LCD television sets.
NOTEBOOKS
Demand for notebook screens will rise 30 percent in the third quarter from the second while demand for LCD-TV screens will jump 61 percent, DisplaySearch forecast.
In the fourth quarter, while increases in supply will outstrip gains in demand, producers will still produce too few panels.
For the year, total shipments will rise 42 percent to 97.2 million units, generating a 32 percent increase in revenue to US$23 million.
By company, LG Philips LCD, the joint venture between LG Electronics Inc and Royal Philips Electronics NV, had 21.1 percent of the market, leading Samsung with 18.9 percent and Taiwan's AU Optronics Corp (
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