- In the first quarter of 2004, shipment volume and value of Taiwanese computer monitors, both LCD (Liquid Cryptal Display) and CDT (Color Display Tube), showed year-on-year growth. Total shipment volume reached around 20 million units while shipment value amounted to approximately US$4.4 billion. LCD monitors continued to break a record high and pushed shipment share to over 50%. For the first time, LCD monitors surpassed CDT monitors in shipment volume.
Despite the low retail season, global demand for LCD monitors rose markedly owing to CDT monitor replacement and an increase in PC bundle rates. Boosted by these positive factors, Taiwanese LCD monitor shipment volume continued its ascent, growing 2% sequentially and over 50% year-on-year.
LCD panel prices continued to rise due to tight supply, while shipment share of monitors 17" and larger increased to over 60%. Therefore, ASP (Average Selling Price) of Taiwanese LCD monitors grew from US$315 in the forth quarter of 2003 to US$324 in the first quarter of 2004. Shipment value also climbed to approximately US$3.5 billion, registering 5% sequential growth but dramatic 77% year-on-year growth.
Due to shrinking supply of 15" panels, shipment volume of 17" and 19" LCD panels grew markedly in the first quarter of 2004. Additionally, 17" LCD monitors replaced 15" LCD monitors for the first time to record the highest shipment share.
Taiwanese CDT monitor shipment volume reached over nine million units in the first quarter of 2004, falling 17% sequentially but hovering at the same year-on-year level due to mounting demand in emerging markets.
Monitors of all sizes held around the same price level. Although shipment share of 17", 19", and larger monitors continued to rise, shipment value remained at US$900 million, posting a 13% sequential drop and a slight year-on-year decline. At the end of the first quarter, some glass suppliers switched production from CDT to TV glass. Coupled with temporary production halts due to furnace breakdowns, CDT shortages began to surface.
In the second quarter of 2004, as global demand for LCD monitors is expected to surge, Taiwanese LCD monitor shipment is likely to break a new high. However, panel supply will remain a major determinant behind shipment performance in the second quarter.
The decline in CDT monitor shipment volume is anticipated to slow, as strong demand from emerging markets offsets gradual replacement by LCD monitors. Nonetheless, production line transitions to TV glass and annual overhauls of glass furnaces during second quarter will intensify the CDT shortage and affect CDT monitor shipment volume.