Slower Growth for LCD TV Shipments in 2012: NPD DisplaySearch

Taipei, July 19, 2012 (CENS)--Global shipments of LCD TVs are expected to grow at a slower pace in 2012 than 2011; while the overall TV market is expected to decline this year even in emerging markets, where large screen sizes, LED backlights, and 3D continue to grow, according to NPD DisplaySearch.

In NPD DisplaySearch's latest forecast update, total TV shipments are forecast to fall 1.4% in 2012 to 245 million units, while LCD TV is expected to increase by 5% (compared to 7% growth in 2011) to reach 216 million units.

The decline in overall TV market demand and the slower growth in LCD TV shipments, the major display market intelligence firm said, could be attributed to the slower rate of price erosion and cautious spending by consumers in Europe and Asia.

Growth in emerging markets like China, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Eastern Europe, as well as the Middle East, and Africa, are expected to reach 8% year-on-year (YoY) in 2012, matching the pace in 2011, NPD DisplaySearch said. Growth in these regions is expected to remain in the mid-single-digit range throughout the forecast period, offsetting the lack of strong growth in countries already well along the flat panel TV conversion path.

LCD TVs remain the only growing TV technology, as organic light-emit diode (OLED) TVs are likely to launch late this year, and LCD continues to take market share from both cathode-ray tube (CRT) and plasma technologies.

LCD TVs are expected to account for about 88% of total TV shipments worldwide in 2012, up from 82% the year before, and are projected to peak around 97% of overall unit demand in 2015. Plasma TV shipments on the other hand will fall to about 5%, declining 26% YoY as pricing becomes uncompetitive at key sizes.

While the outlook for 3D TV shipments has cooled somewhat, 74% YoY growth is still very impressive for a technology entering the third year of availability, and adoption in many regions remains robust, , NPD DisplaySearch said.