Large-area TFT LCD Shipments Up 20% in 2009

Global large-area TFT LCD panel shipments reached a record high of 527 million units in 2009, with strong growth in TV, mini-notebook and public display applications, indicating recovery from the economic crisis in late 2008, according to the DisplaySearch Quarterly Large-Area TFT LCD Shipment Report. 4Q09 was the strongest quarter, with 154 million units shipped, up 1 percent from 3Q09.

Monitors are a relatively mature market for large-area TFT LCD, with only 2 percent Y/Y growth from 2008, and the same level as 2007. However, notebook PC and mini-note panels reached 175 million units for a healthy 25 percent Y/Y growth. TV panels are the brightest spot, with 45 percent Y/Y growth to 163 million units. In addition, public display panel shipments grew substantially, by 93 percent Y/Y, from 0.9 million units to 1.1 million.

“In the middle of 2009, DisplaySearch indicated that 2009 panel shipments would exceed 520 million units, based on the aggressive business plans of panel makers, and these results justify our forecast,” noted David Hsieh, Vice President of DisplaySearch and the research leader for large-area panels. “4Q09 was a very strong quarter, especially for LCD TV, which passed 50 million units for the first time. This is a result of strong panel demand from China, as well as economic recovery in North America and Europe. Panel makers are increasing their utilization to boost shipments.”

However, according to Hsieh, due to seasonality, shorter working days, and a labor shortage in China, panel shipments are expected to decline by 4 percent Q/Q in 1Q10, although panel makers are targeting more than 50 million LCD TV panels.

LG Display led 2009 shipments with a 24.9 percent share, but Samsung followed closely with 24.5 percent. AUO’s share was 17 percent and CMO’s was 14.2 percent. However, Samsung remains the leader in both area and revenues. Korean makers significantly increased their area share, from 46.2 percent in 2008 to 52.8 percent in 2009.

DisplaySearch