(Nikkei BP Group)
(No.1 High-Tech News Site in Japanese)
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| Taiwan Makers Obtain More LCD Panel Orders from Japan
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March 17, 1999 (TAIPEI) -- Japanese and U.S. producers of computer monitors
are placing original equipment manufacturing (OEM) orders for liquid
crystal display (LCD) panels with Taiwan-based companies.
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This is one of the reasons that the LCD panel market is experiencing
a severe case of under-supply.
Many Taiwan-based makers of notebook PCs are entering into or expanding
LCD monitor OEM production.
Japanese producers are among the world's leaders in LCD panel manufacturing.
When ordering LCD monitors from Taiwan partners, they usually supply
their own panels. Yet now, the shortage has become so severe that even
the leading Japanese suppliers are ordering LCD panels from Taiwan along
with monitors. NEC Corp. and Toshiba Corp. are among those placing major
orders.
Compal Electronics Inc., a leading maker of notebook PCs, is likely to
win orders from NEC.
A Compal executive said that notebook PC makers that can offer a large
number of panels will win more orders as compared with specialized monitor
makers. Compal ordered large numbers of LCD panels from LG Electronics Inc.
of Korea last year -- which puts Compal in a good position to supply
panels to Japanese companies this year.
Global LCD monitor demand is estimated at 3 million to 4 million units
this year, according to industry observers.
An executive with Taiwan's Chuntex Electronic Co., Ltd., however, warns
against making such predictions now, because supply-demand conditions
are likely to change after June.
Taiwan's semi-official Institute for Information Industry (III) made
a relatively conservative projection of 2.7 million units for 1999.
(Commercial Times, Taiwan)
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