(Nikkei BP Group)
(No.1 High-Tech News Site in Japanese)
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| Market Growth of TFT-LCD Monitors Limited by Panel Price Hike
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December 17, 1998 (TAIPEI) -- Affected by the price increase of thin-film-transistor
liquid-crystal display (TFT-LCD) panels, TFT-LCD monitors are seeing
weaker demand.
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The shortage of TFT-LCD panels has resulted in a surge in prices of 14-in.
and 15-in. models.
Local manufacturers estimate that the prices of these two sizes of panels
have increased by US$50 since November, and may remain high until January
1999.
With the supply of major components falling short of demand, and with
costs on the rise, TFT-LCD monitor makers are now in an unfavorable
position.
The optimistic forecast of Nomura Research Institute, of quadrupling
growth in global TFT-LCD monitor output both this year and next, is
now in question.
Even so, Li Ching-chang, general manager of Royal Information Electronics
Co., Ltd. said he believes the rebound in prices of TFT-LCD monitors
will be capped by the low-priced trend of personal computers.
He predicts that the increase in panel costs is most likely to be absorbed
jointly by retailers, distributors and manufacturers, instead of being
fully reflected in the price tags to consumers.
(Commercial Times, Taiwan)
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