Shipment volume of LCD (Liquid Crystal display) polarizer reached 10.5 million square meters in the first quarter of 2005, growing 54% year-on-year and 8% sequentially, according to Korean research firm Displaybank. TFT-LCD (Thin Film Transistor Liquid Crystal Display) polarizer constituted more than 90% of the total shipment volume. Due to the quick rise of TFT-LCD, growth of STN (Super Twisted Nematic) and TN (Twisted Nematic) polarizer has continued weakening ever since 2002.

 

Japanese makers had a 62% share of the total LCD polarizer shipment volume in 2005, and Korean and Taiwanese makers had a share of 20% and 18% respectively. However, Japanese makers have seen their market share decrease by 18% since 2002, and Korean and Taiwanese makers both have seen their market share roughly double.