Taipei, Dec. 1, 2011 (CENS)--Total TV market shipments were up 3.7% year-on-year (YoY) in the third quarter to 62 million units, a 12% quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) increase, according to DisplaySearch.
This marked a healthy rebound from the 1% YoY shipment decline in the second quarter, and weak 1% YoY gain in the first quarter, the major international display-market research firm said. However, orders for liquid crystal display (LCD) and plasma panels used in the production of TV sets were both down in the third quarter, resulting in a somewhat lean inventory situation towards the end of the quarter. Many panel suppliers are being reserved towards inventory for the holidays. Therefore, if demand is better than expected, there may not be much slack in the supply chain to fill restocking orders. This could potentially lead to some product shortages, the company said.
LCD TV shipments worldwide were about 1% better than forecasted, rising 12.9% YoY to 51.5M units compared to single-digit annual growth during the first quarter and second quarter. This is a good indication of improving demand in end markets, DisplaySearch said. Retail prices for some LCD sizes are falling below key price levels, like US$300 for 32-inch and US$500 for 40- to 42-inch.
The transition to light-emitting diode (LED) backlights continues, but the rate of adoption has been slower than expected. LED-backlit models have not been able to pass the 50% level, accounting for 48% of total LCD TV shipments, with the vast majority of those being edge-lit models. Similarly, higher frame-rate models (120Hz or higher) have been mostly unchanged through 2011, representing about 22% of LCD shipments in the quarter. 3D grew to about 11% of LCD TVs, up from 9% in the second quarter. The slower growth of these two advanced features is indicative of a continuation of conservative consumer spending and reluctance to pay significant premiums, the research firm explained.
| Q3'11 Worldwide Flat Panel TV Brand Rankings by Revenue Share |
| Rank | Brand | Q2'11
Share | Q3'11
Share | Q/Q
Growth | Y/Y
Growth |
| 1 | Samsung | 22.7% | 22.8% | 10% | 9% |
| 2 | LGE | 14.4% | 13.1% | -1% | 0% |
| 3 | Sony | 11.8% | 9.9% | -8% | -13% |
| 4 | Panasonic* | 9.4% | 8.4% | -2% | -5% |
| 5 | Sharp | 7.0% | 7.6% | 18% | -3% |
| | Other | 34.8% | 38.2% | 20% | 9% |
| | Total | 100.0% | 100.0% | 9% | 3% |
Source: DisplaySearchAdvanced Quarterly Global TV Shipment and Forecast Report
* Includes Sanyo Starting in Q2'11 |
