Continuing to build on a string of growth witnessed since the fourth quarter of 2002, Taiwanese large size TFT LCD Thin-Film Transistor Liquid Crystal Display) panel industry shipment volume and value both saw strong gains in the third quarter of 2003. Volume grew 68% year on year to reach approximately 9.5 million units. LCD monitors remained the main application, comprising 70% of volume; 14.1", 15", and 17" sizes accounted for roughly 91% of total panel shipments.
Panel for LCD monitor and notebook PC applications aggregately comprised 97% of shipments. Mainstream 15" and 17" sizes accounted for 92% of volume for monitor applications, with 17" panel volume growing 25% sequentially. Mainstream 14.1" and 15 notebook PC application sizes accounted for 98% of panel shipments for notebook PCs. The 20.1" and 30" panels that are the dominant sizes used for LCD TV held 64% of LCD TV panel shipments.
The third quarter of 2003 continued to see slight monthly increases in panel price. Combined with a sequential upswing in larger size panels and TV panel volume, Taiwanese LCD panel shipment value rose 24% sequentially to reach close to US$2 billion. Average selling price rose nearly 6% from the second quarter of 2003.
Short supply and an increasing share of LCD TV panel is expected to drive shipment value growth in the fourth quarter of 2003. However, the short supply caused by limited capacity expansions and compounded by a dearth of color filter is anticipated to bring about slower fourth quarter growth than seen during the third quarter of 2003.