Taiwanese monitor industry shipment volume and value both saw increases in the third quarter of 2003, reaching approximately 18.6 million units and US$3.5 billion respectively. LCD (Liquid Crystal display) monitors accounted for 47% of total shipments, while CDT (Color Display Tube) monitors comprised 53%.
LCD monitor shipment volume is estimated to have reached 8.6 million units in the third quarter of 2003, growing 20.5% sequentially and 88.5% year-on-year. Volume growth and an increase in larger-sized monitor share, combined with a rise in LCD panel prices, pushed a climb in shipment value that outpaced volume gains: value grew 24.5% sequentially and 92.3% year-on-year to reach US$2.5 billion. Average selling price climbed from US$285 to US$294.
Volume of 15", 17", and 19" sizes all continued to increase; however, with a shortage of 15" panels and aggressive promotion of 17" LCD monitors, the share of 17" sizes is are estimated to have exceeded share of 15" shipments.
CDT monitor shipments grew 20.3% sequentially in the third quarter of 2003, a 10.4% decrease year-on-year to 9.9 million units. Volume grew 18.3% sequentially, and declined 17.4% year-on-year to US$965 million.
In the fourth quarter of 2003, the dual impact of the peak retail season and CDT-LCD monitor replacement effects is expected to push a new high in LCD monitor shipment volume. However, the slow pace of panel capacity expansions continues to threaten a panel shortage that will impact shipment volume. Second tier makers will feel the effects most strongly, and the gap in shipments between first and second tier players is expected to further widen.