Global shipments of touch panels, used largely in mobile phones and portable navigation devices, are expected to grow 3.3 percent this year as the economic downturn continues to weaken demand for electronic products, market researcher DisplaySearch said in its latest report released on Monday.
Following 52 percent growth last year, touch panel shipments could increase slightly to 480 million units this year, compared with 460 million units last year, the Austin, Texas-based researcher forecast.
DisplaySearch said growth should gain momoentum next year after the global economy recovers, which could help global panel shipments expand 25 percent year-on-year to 606 million units and to 1.4 billion units in 2015, it said in its report.
Shipment value was expected to increase slightly this year and could grow next year to US$4.5 billion, from US$3.6 billion last year. DisplaySearch did not provide its shipment value forecast for this year.
Last year, Taiwan’s largest touch-panel maker, Young Fast Optoelectronics Co (洋華光電), was the No. 2 touch-panel supplier globally, DisplaySearch said.
Young Fast has a wide customer portfolio, which includes HTC Corp (宏達電), South Korea’s LG Electronics Inc and Samsung Electronics Co, its Web site said. Taiwan’s JTouch Corp (介面光電) grabbed the fifth position last year.
By unit shipment, Taiwan is the world’s largest touch panel exporter, DisplaySearch said.
Last year, a big portion — or about 47 percent of total touch panels shipped — were used in mobile phones. That share is expected to increase to 51 percent this year as more handsets are expected to be outfitted with touch screens.
Shares of Young Fast and rose 2.64 percent to NT$408 yesterday, while JTouch shares traded at NT49.8 on the nation’s emerging market.
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