Flat-screen market analyst DisplaySearch reports in its latest survey that LCD TV panels (mostly HD) jumped 18 percent from Q3 to Q4 in the just-concluded calendar year—and surged 70 percent between the final quarters of the past two years (Y/Y), to just under 28 million units globally.
David Barnes, DisplaySearch vice president of strategic analysis, said “Historically, slow capacity expansion and tight supply of large panels supported supplier prices more than usual in 2007. For example, the average unit price of LCD TV panels fell only 6 percent from 2006, and the average area price fell only 22 percent.” Barnes said his Austin, Texas-based firm expects supply to remain relatively tight through this current quarter.
Also, despite “sluggish consumer take-up” in the final holiday weeks of 2007, Barnes said “strong consumer demand” for 1080p LCD products through all of 2007 contributed to a “strong year overall.”
Samsung held the greatest share of LCD TV panel revenues with sales of $8.6 billion (26 percent revenue share) in 2007—followed by LG.Philips LCD (22 percent).
