Korea's LG Electronics said on March 17 that the total amount of its procurement in Taiwan will remain at the level of US$1.5 billion in 2009, Taiwan's Liberty Times reported. Of the US$1.5 billion, around US$1.0 billion will be for the procurement of LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panels, to be equally split between AUO and CMO. Myong Won Baek, chairman of LG Taiwan, revealed in said report that in the first quarter of 2009 LG has purchased 300,000 to 500,000 panels per month from AUO and about 150,000 panels per month from CMO. Should CMO be able to improve its production capacity, Baek expects the procurement from CMO will increase as well.

In addition to LCD panel purchase, LG expects to spend around US$500 million on contract manufacturing of LCD TVs and monitors as well as mobile phones in Taiwan. LG is expected to place LCD TV and monitor manufacturing orders with Ya Hsin Industrial and PVI (Prime View International). Also, the company projects that the volume of its mobile phone orders will see considerable growth this year. Aside from Arima Communications, which has engaged in mobile phone assembly for LG, the Korean company expects to find one or two more Taiwanese collaborators for mobile phone outsourcing in 2009.