Large-Sized LCD Panel Market Shows Recovery Signs in June: iSuppli

Taipei, Sept. 30, 2009 (CENS)--Worldwide shipments of large-sized (over-10-inch) thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panels reached 47.1 million units in June, up 9% month-on-month (MoM) and up 26.2% from the same time a year ago (year-on-year, or YoY), according to iSuppli Corp.

The major display-market research and consulting firm said that this increase represents an acceleration in the MoM growth rate from 6.9% in May and 6.2% in April. In addition, June marked the first month in 2009 that all three large-sized LCD panel applications (i.e., TVs, notebook PCs and desktop-PC monitors) showed YoY expansions in shipments.

Sweta Dash, senior director for LCD Research at iSuppli, said "With the market hitting on all cylinders, the strong demand outlook for panel purchase is expected to continue through the third quarter as brands prepare for strong sales in the upcoming Christmas season."

The growth in the large-sized LCD segment was led mainly by rising sales of TVs and notebook PC panels with MoM increases of 9.2% and 9.1%, respectively. This was followed by monitor panels, which climbed 8.3% MoM.

The positive sales momentum continued in July and August as the TV market prepared for Christmas, iSuppli said, despite some inventories that built up in the retail channels, Dash noted. "Nevertheless, there is fear that panel supply may be tight because of various factors, including the continuing glass shortage, as well as the recent earthquake in Japan that has damaged Corning's glass tanks and impacted glass supply for Sharp's eighth-generation fab," he said.

For the entire second quarter, global large-sized LCD panel shipments were 43% higher quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) and up 12% YoY. Factors contributing to the strong quarter included the improvement in the world economy, robust demand from the Chinese market, new model introductions, the shift to 16-by-9 format panels and the increasing use of light emitting diode (LED) backlights.

Shipments of monitor panels in June reached 17.8 million units, representing a better-than-expected MoM growth of 8.3% and an 8.5% YoY. That of TV panels reached 13.2 million, rising 61.8% YoY and up by 9.2% MoM. Shipments of notebook PC panels, including 10-inch displays, reached 15.3 million units in June, driven by the strong demand for Consumer Ultra-Low Voltage (CULV) models.

Worldwide Large-Sized TFT-LCD Panel Monthly Shipment Forecast (Thousands of Units)
	Jan '09	Feb '09	Mar '09	Apr '09	May '09	Jun '09
Thousands of Units	23,771	29,594	38,032	40,394	43,188	47,086
Source: iSuppli Corp. September 2009