Due to maturing product technology and increased consumer acceptance worldwide, DSC (Digital Still Camera) shipment growth has exceeded expectations in 2003. Riding this wave of growth and owing to the smaller shipment scale brought on by the CCD (Charged Coupled Device) sensor shortage in 2002, Taiwanese DSC volume grew 118.1% year on year to total approximately 4.8 million units in the third quarter of 2003. Shipment value rose 30.7% during the same period, while ASP grew to US$88.1. 

Taiwanese DSC product mix has seen a progressive shift to higher-resolution models. Two to three megapixel cameras comprised 47.1% of shipment volume, a higher share than witnessed in the first half of 2003. Models between one and two megapixels and cameras under one megapixel respectively dropped to 9.7% and 2.5%. Cameras between three to four, four to five, and over five megapixels rose to 24.9%, 12.3%, and 3.5% respectively. This shift toward higher resolutions is reflective of stronger correlation between worldwide market demand and Taiwanese product mix. 

As for image sensor adoption, CCD supply has progressively recovered, and although CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) occupies over half of the two megapixel DSC market, progress in ramping up mass production for three megapixel models has not met expectations. CCD thus dominates the three megapixel market at present, and as makers look to roll out higher-resolution cameras, share of CCD adoption will increase. Hence, continuing the trend seen in the first half of 2003, CCD saw a 56.9% adoption rate in total Taiwanese DSC shipments, higher than the 43.1% seen with CMOS.