LCD screen will be missing in 2007

Samsung Electrics predicts that the global LCD market will be very difficult in the first half of 2007, but demand will increase sharply, even in the second half of the year.

" The consumption of the first six months will be very slow, but then demand will skyrocket, " said Lee Sang-wan, president of Samsung's LCD division. " In fact, the possibility of scarcity of LCD screens in the last months of the year is still possible ."

Samsung said its goal is to launch the latest product line produced by S-LCD (Sony joint venture) 2-3 months earlier than originally planned (October 2007).

Source: lcd-monitor-reviews "Our 8th generation product line can launch sooner than schedule and will catch up with the Christmas shopping season ," Lee said.

Currently, Samsung can produce about 75,000 S-LCD screens every month but early next year, the monthly output may increase to 90,000. Compared to the previous product lines, the 8th generation LCD uses larger glass panels, so that the performance and quality are higher. (A parent glass can produce 9 46-inch or 6-inch 52-inch TV screens, compared to 6 46-inch screens of the 7th generation).

Due to the fierce price war between firms, some Samsung rivals such as LG Philips have suffered financial losses in the last fiscal quarter. Samsung itself is making up for the S-LCD product line in the first phase, but Lee believes it will be profitable early next year.

Samsung also forecasts that the 40-inch or more LCD display market will grow by 112% in 2007. The 46-inch or more display market is even growing at a record pace of 253%.

Trong Cam