- Total Taiwanese monitor shipment volume reached over 16 million units in the first quarter of 2003, with shipment value exceeding US$2.9 billion. Further gaining ground over CDT monitors, LCD monitors accounted for 43.3% of total shipments, while CDT monitors comprised 56.7%.
LCD monitor shipment volume climbed 13.9% from the fourth quarter of 2002 to reach seven million units. Shipment value grew 17.2% during the same period, amounting to over US$1.9 billion, boosted by volume growth and a mounting share of 17-inch monitor shipments. 17-inch and larger displays comprised over 40% of total LCD monitor volume in the first quarter, compared to under 25% of total 2002 shipments.
The closing price gap between LCD and CDT monitors has accelerated CDT monitor replacement, and such falling prices have stimulated LCD monitor demand since the fourth quarter of 2002. However, shortages of 15-inch panels impacted the 15-inch shipments of some manufacturers in the first quarter. Combined with steady supply of 17-inch panels, share of 17-inch monitors saw a marked increase.
Faced by declining LCD monitor prices, CDT monitor shipment volume dropped 22.1% from the fourth quarter of 2002 to approximately 9.2 million units. CDT monitor shipment value fell 20.4% through the first quarter of 2003 to US$958 million.
With continued replacement effects, Taiwanese LCD shipment volume will see sustained growth at the expense of CDT shipments. In terms of product mix, the degree to which fifth generation plants can smoothly ramp up output will have a major impact in determining the time when 17-inch monitors become mainstream.