Report forecasts monitor-market growth

JULY 11--A report by DisplaySearch (Austin, TX; www.displaysearch.com), an FPD market-research and consulting firm, reveals global first-quarter 2001 desktop-monitor shipment results and a rolling eight-quarter forecast of LCD monitors, CRT monitors, and LCD PCs. The report--Quarterly Desktop Monitor Shipment and Forecast Report, indicates that first-quarter 2001 worldwide LCD monitor shipments rose 85% year-to-year to 2.32 million units, with 125% growth predicted for the second quarter to 2.784 million units.

The LCD monitor market is benefiting from a significant decline in street prices caused by lower TFT LCD monitor-module and interface-electronics costs. The weighted-average LCD monitor street price fell 9% sequentially in the first quarter and 20% year-to-year to $994 and is expected to fall 16% sequentially and 34% year-to-year in the second quarter to $833.

Japan enjoyed the highest sequential unit growth in the first quarter at 30%, which boosted its shipments to more than 1 million units for the first time. Japan accounted for 44% of LCD monitor shipments in the first quarter, and LCD monitor penetration exceeded 50% in Japan for the first time at 52%.

In the second quarter, North America is expected to enjoy the fastest sequential growth at 43%, which will boost its market share to 24%. LCD monitor penetration in North America is expected to rise from 4.3% in the first quarter to 6.3% in the second quarter.