LCD TV Sales in Taiwan to Top 1 M. Units This Year: MIC

Taipei, July 11, 2008 (CENS)--Sales of LCD TVs in Taiwan are expected to top one million units this year, a 23% increase from 2007, including 486,000 units sold in the first six months, according to Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) of domestic Institute for Information Industry.

The center said that major sales-growth momentums in the second half would come mainly from the sliding LCD TV prices stimulating purchase willingness, demand generated from the coming Beijing Olympics, and purchases for the second-TV at home. Large-size models would continue to get sales gains, while smaller-size products would gradually win popularity at bedrooms and reading rooms at consumers' homes, MIC said.

Shipment ratio of Full High-Definition (HD), or 1080p, LCD TVs accounted for 15.5% of the total market in the first half, MIC said, and the ratio is expected to climb to 23.9% in the second half, representing a clear growth trend.

Chiang Han-yi, senior analyst at MIC, pointed out that a group of international brands accounted for a 38.7% share in the domestic LCD TV market in the first-half, including Sony, LG, Panasonic, Toshiba, Philips, Samsung etc.; while major local vendors about 35.7% including Tatung, Kolin, Teco, Sampo, Proton etc.

The analyst attributed international brands' upgraded market share in Taiwan to their price-cutting strategy, while some famous home-appliance vendors' established sales and service channels have also been achieving stable sales growth. Chiang added that some local information technology (IT) brands, such as BenQ, CHIMEI, ASUS, HiPlus etc. have tied up with 3C (computer, communication, and consumer electronics) retail chains to push price-competitive models, hence effectively raising shipments.

MIC's data showed that the 32-inch models are still the market mainstay by taking a 38.1% share in the first half. Over-37% products together won a 40% share, while over-46-inch products took a 1.4% share. Smaller models, including 20- to 23-inch products, accounted for 13.2% of the total shipments during the period.

In Taiwan, MIC pointed out, over 50% LCD TVs are sold at home-appliance and 3C chain-stores and hypermarkets as elifemall, Tsann Kuen, Carrefour, RT-Mart etc.