Global shipment of large-sized TFT-LCD panels hits new high in Sept.:DisplaySearch.

Taipei, Nov. 2, 2009 (CENS)--Global shipments of large-sized (10-inch and larger) thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panels climbed 2% month-on-month (MoM) and 25% year-on-year (YoY) to reach 52 million units in September, a new monthly record in history, according to major display market research firm DisplaySearch.

Sales revenue of large-sized TFT-LCD panels reached US$6.8 billion in September, up 6% MoM and 15% YoY.

The overall market grew despite the fact that shipments of monitor panels declined 8% MoM to 16.8 million units in September, the first time this segment has experienced a MoM decline since February of this year. Samsung shipped more than five million panels for portable PCs (notebook and mininote/ netbook) in September, which is the first time a supplier shipped that many panels in a month for this application.

According to David Hsieh, vice president of DisplaySearch and president of DisplaySearch Taiwan Office, September was a record-breaking month for large-sized TFT-LCD panels in several segments, including total shipments, shipment area, notebook PC, TV and netbook panel shipments. However, inventory adjustment and seasonal slowdown obviously influenced monitor panel demand.

Sales of LCD TVs in China during the "golden week" holiday were very strong, indicating that the LCD TV boom in China is not over yet and many brands continue to purchase panels to refill inventories, Hsieh added. Moreover, LCD TV demand is picking up in Europe and North America, driving panel shipments to a record high of 15.6 million in September.

On a unit basis, Samsung of South Korea was the leader with a 24.3% market share, followed closely by LG Display with 24.0%, while Taiwan-based AUO was at the third place with 17.9%, and another Taiwanese supplier Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp. (CMO) with 14.1%.

In terms of area, large-sized TFT-LCD shipments reached 8.1 million square meters in September, up 6% MoM and 28% YoY, another record high for LCDs. Netbook PC (5.0-11.6-inch) panel shipments were 4.4 million in September, achieving an all-time high. AUO and HannStar of Taiwan led this segment with each shipping more than one million netbook panels in the month, DisplaySearch said.

Monthly Large-sized TFT-LCD Shipments (Millions)

              September '08   August '09   September '08   M/M   Y/Y

Notebook PC   13.5            17.6         18.6            6%    38%
Monitor       16.6            18.2         16.8            -8%   2%
TV            10.4            14           15.6            11%   49%
Other         1.0             1.1          1.0             -     -
L/A Total     41.5            50.9         52.0            2%    25%

Source: DisplaySearch October 2009 Monthly TFT LCD Shipment Database