Roller coaster ride continues in LCD panel and equipment sales

NEW TRIPOLI, USA: TFT-LCD equipment, which grew 28% in 2008, but will drop 21 percent in 2009, according to the report LCD Market: Technology Directions and Market Analysis, recently published by The Information Network.Source: The Information Network.

"Although LCD manufacturers have announced capex reductions of about 50 percent for 2009 in response to the global economic crisis, capex is a moving target subject to change throughout the year. For example, in anticipation of a banner year in 2008, initial capex forecasts made in early 2008 called for an 86 percent increase. In fact, capex ended up growing only 13 percent.” notes Dr. Robert N. Castellano, President of The Information Network.

The Information Network forecasts array processing equipment to decrease 21 percent in 2009 following an increase of 28 percent in 2008. The equipment market will grow 28 percent in 2010, 31 percent in 2011, and 17 percent in 2012, respectively.

Large-size TFT-LCD panel growth in 2009 will be buoyed by LCD TV and notebook sales. For 2009, 124 million panels will be sold for LCD TVs, up 22 percent from 102 million in 2008. Panels for notebooks will grow less, up 8 percent to 151 million panels. Panels for monitors will decrease 4 percent in 2009 to 178 million units.

“Panel makers are stringently controlling costs while improving the technology innovation at this time,” added Dr. Castellano. “While unit shipments of large-size panels will increase 6 percent to 439 million panels, panel revenues will decrease 8 percent.