NEWS MONITORS

As independent market research company DisplaySearch reports, production figures for LCD monitors reached a new twelve month high in January – a value that may be exceeded once more in March with an expected production volume of 12.9 million units.

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DisplaySearch indicates increasing demand for TV panels in the desktop sizes of 19 to 24 inches as a reason for this increase in production. This increased demand inevitably brings about an increase in monitor panels prices, which is why many device manufacturers are increasing their orders for monitor panels. In doing so, the companies hope to beat the impending price increases. By contrast, however, this behaviour increases the risk of high sock at manufacturers, since demand for monitors is not increasing to the same degree.

This impression is supported by flagging demand for monitors from China, a market of increasing importance for the monitor branch. Although demand in China only demonstrates low growth rates increased orders have been received by device manufacturers, which intend to cover themselves for the approaching Chinese New Year.

Nonetheless, the increase in demand remains more or less a puzzle for DisplaySearch, since many end customers are switching increasingly to mobile computers. Monitors are therefore being used mainly in the professional sector, whereby demand should only increase slightly. Despite all this, the monitor market remains an important supporting pillar for large format LCD panels.