Shipments from Taiwan of large-size flat panels used in televisions and monitors have hit a record high of 14.8 million units in the three months to June due to capacity expansion and strong demand, an industry research group said yesterday.
The volume of TFT LCD (Thin-Film Transistor Liquid Crystal Display) panels rose 17.4 percent sequentially and 71 percent year on year, the Market Intelligence Center (MIC,
"These dramatic gains were the result of heavy capacity expansions by panel suppliers, as well as urgent demand from customers looking to prepare for the peak retail season, as well as avoid a repeat of the panel shortages that plagued makers during the second half of 2003," it said.
The total shipment value amounted to US$3.9 billion, up 129 percent year on year.
Average selling price was at its highest since the first quarter of 2002, reaching US$264 due to the increasing volume of higher-priced LCD monitor and LCD TV panels.
However, toward the end of the second quarter the market appeared to be faltering.
"Combined with aggressive capacity expansions by panel makers, the rise in prices shows signs of deflating," the MIC warned.
Notebook personal computer and LCD monitor applications made up for 91 percent of panel shipments, while LCD TV panels for the first time surpassed 6 percent of volume.
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