http://www.witsview.com/WitsView RSS Feed60http://www.witsview.com/Intelligence/MarketStatus/Post.aspx?PostId=3347According to WitsView’s panel price survey for September, the price pressure on the 3 main applications can still be felt. This stems from the weaker-than-usual end market demand during the traditional strong seasonality, as the global economy remains weighed by inflation and credit squeeze problems--resulting in weak consumer confidence and buying power. Although...lany HuMon, 08 Sep 2008 18:19:06 GMTMarket Statushttp://www.witsview.com/Intelligence/MarketStatus/Post.aspx?PostId=3347According to WitsView’s panel price survey for September, the price pressure on the 3 main applications can still be felt. This stems from the weaker-than-usual end market demand during the traditional strong seasonality, as the global economy remains weighed by inflation and credit squeeze problems--resulting in weak consumer confidence and buying power. Although...lany HuMon, 08 Sep 2008 18:19:06 GMTMarket Trendhttp://www.witsview.com/MCI/Post.aspx?PostId=3345Between August 25, 2008 to September 5, 2008, the MCI index slumped from 5994.7 to 5555.3, down by another whopping 439.5 points. Since the launch of the MCI index on Jan 1, 2003 by WitsView, the last time the index was near the 5500 level only occurred during 2003. Thus, if we exclude this particular year, the current TFT LCD market confidence level is...Charlie LiangMon, 08 Sep 2008 14:14:21 GMTMCIhttp://www.witsview.com/News/Default.aspxhttp://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=1208&u_sid=10425879...OthersMon, 08 Sep 2008 09:38:59 GMTNewshttp://www.witsview.com/News/Default.aspxhttp://www.tribune.net.ph/life/20080908lif2.html...TribuneMon, 08 Sep 2008 09:37:27 GMTNewshttp://www.witsview.com/News/Default.aspxhttp://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/09/123_30670.html...Korea TimesMon, 08 Sep 2008 09:34:38 GMTNewshttp://www.witsview.com/News/TopStory.aspxSamsung Electronics, the world's No. 1 supplier of liquid crystal display (LCD) panels, has decided to build its second LCD module plant in Suzhou, China to meet growing demand for flat-screen TVs in that country. ``The new plant will have an annual production capacity of some 2 million in the first phase. We expect the LCD module factory to start production in the first half of next year,'' a high-ranking Samsung Electronics source told The Korea Times, Sunday. ``Some $150 million will be invested for the construction of a new plant and Samsung will handle the investment by itself without Korea TimesMon, 08 Sep 2008 09:34:38 GMTTop Storyhttp://www.witsview.com/News/Default.aspxhttp://www.digitimes.com/NewsShow/NewsSearch.asp?DocID=PD000000000000000000000000007107&query=LCD...DigiTimesMon, 08 Sep 2008 09:33:01 GMTNewshttp://www.witsview.com/News/Default.aspxhttp://www.digitimes.com/systems/a20080904PD218.html...DigiTimesMon, 08 Sep 2008 09:31:47 GMTNewshttp://www.witsview.com/News/Default.aspxhttp://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=333445...Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:43:11 GMTNewshttp://www.witsview.com/News/Default.aspxhttp://www.infosyncworld.com/news/n/9728.html...Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:40:48 GMTNewshttp://www.witsview.com/News/Default.aspxhttp://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=amFTuARrp0AI...Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:38:41 GMTNewshttp://www.witsview.com/News/Default.aspxhttp://www.digitimes.com/NewsShow/NewsSearch.asp?DocID=PD000000000000000000000000007085&query=LCD...Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:36:32 GMTNewshttp://www.witsview.com/News/Default.aspxhttp://www.digitimes.com/NewsShow/NewsSearch.asp?DocID=PD000000000000000000000000007092&query=LCD...Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:34:26 GMTNewshttp://www.witsview.com/News/TopStory.aspxDespite its success beating Sony in the North America LCD TV market, Samsung's LCD TV sales in Taiwan were far worse than expected in the first half of the year, according to market sources. Samsung only shipped about 20,000 LCD TVs, grabbing only 3% of the 460,000 unit market in the first half of this year, the market sources noted. Samsung expected its shipments in Taiwan this year to reach 100,000 units. However, few new models were introduced in the first half of the year, and frequent promotions from other brand vendor such as BenQ, Tatung and Chimei weakened any Samsung advantage. Samsung DigiTimesFri, 05 Sep 2008 09:34:26 GMTTop Storyhttp://www.witsview.com/Intelligence/Column/Post.aspx?PostId=3322According to WitsView's street price survey, LCD monitors, which has seen little price changes during the past year, experienced a bigger fall in August. The mainstream 4:3 and widescreen sizes fell respectively by 3~4% and 7%, the biggest drop yet in 2008. Since the panel price plummet in the end of June, it is already being reflected in the monitor retail prices. As for LCD TVs, like before, it only continued to drop moderately. Except for the 20", the remaining mainstream sizes fell within 3%....Tom LoThu, 04 Sep 2008 17:36:21 GMTColumnhttp://www.witsview.com/News/TopStory.aspxLG Display Co., the world's second- largest maker of liquid-crystal displays, said it will extend a reduction in flat-panel production because of uncertain demand. LG Display will ``monitor market conditions,'' Kim Chang Dong, a spokesman for the Seoul-based company, said by telephone today. The panel maker cut LCD production by 10 percent from full capacity in August, citing ``uncertainty'' in the market. The LCD maker joins smaller rivals AU Optronics Corp. and Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp. have cut production this quarter because weaker demand has driven down prices of the panels. Citigroup BloombergThu, 04 Sep 2008 09:38:55 GMTTop Storyhttp://www.witsview.com/News/TopStory.aspxAlthough Samsung prototyped a 240Hz LCD TV earlier this year, Sony are claiming that their 200Hz Motion Flow enabled Z4500 will be the first commercially available screen to reach these speeds. Using mathematical algorithms to insert three additional frames for every original, the Z4500 series will up the frame rate from the standard 50 to 200fps (frames per second). Designed to compliment 200Hz and Sony's BRAVIA Engine 2, 'Image Blur Reduction' has been designed to further enhance the motion handling capabilities of the new screens. The Z4500 series is due to arrive on these shores this HDTV ORGWed, 03 Sep 2008 16:11:52 GMTTop Storyhttp://www.witsview.com/News/TopStory.aspxSouth Korea's LG Display Co Ltd (034220.KS: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Taiwan's Amtran Technology (2489.TW: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) agreed on Monday to set up a joint venture in China to produce flat screen modules and manufacture TV sets for brand makers. LG Display, the world's second-biggest maker of liquid crystal display (LCD) panels, has sought alliances with Asian TV makers to strengthen its client base and reduce costs. The LG-Amtran joint venture will be set up in Amtran's existing production base in Suzhou, China, with initial funding of $20 million. ReutersTue, 02 Sep 2008 09:37:29 GMTTop Storyhttp://www.witsview.com/News/TopStory.aspxSamsung Electronics Co Ltd, the world's top flat television set maker, has raised this year's sales targets of liquid crystal display (LCD) TVs and overall digital media, South Korean media said on Sunday. Samsung, the world's No.1 producer of large LCD screens, lifted its LCD TV sales target for 2008 to more than 20 million units from the previous 18 million, Yonhap news agency quoted Park Jong-woo, the president of Samsung's digital media devision, as saying. That helped the company to raise its sales target for overall digital media, including TVs, home theatres and monitors, to some 40 Economic TimesMon, 01 Sep 2008 09:23:33 GMTTop Storyhttp://www.witsview.com/Intelligence/Column/Post.aspx?PostId=3265By observing the operating margins of panel makers in the past 5 years, 2 major downslides can be spotted. One occurred between 4Q04~2Q05, while the other happened between 2Q06~1Q07. Back in 2004, the application for LCD panels centered mainly on IT displays. As the market demand could not keep up with the supply growth, panel prices declined persistently. During that year,...lany HuFri, 29 Aug 2008 10:29:43 GMTColumnhttp://www.witsview.com/MCI/Post.aspx?PostId=3215Between August 11, 2008 to August 22, 2008, the MCI index plunged from 6210.6 to 5912.2, down by 298.5 points. Although the index fell past the 6000 level, reaching the “very low confidence level” of WitsView’s new MCI confidence scale, this is expected to be only temporary. In the near future,...Charlie LiangMon, 25 Aug 2008 16:48:27 GMTMCIhttp://www.witsview.com/Intelligence/WWShipment/Post.aspx?PostId=3150According to WitsView’s survey, worldwide large-size panel shipments in July reached 32.7 million units, a 7.7% MoM decrease and a mere 1.3% growth on year. Beginning from June, due to rising inventory pressures, some brand and SI makers reduced the amount of panel orders. At the same time, panel prices also began to trend downwards. Meanwhile, according to the panel makers’ July’s 2Q08 investor conferences, where they announced their quarterly performance and 3Q08 outlook, the plummeting...lany HuMon, 18 Aug 2008 11:42:10 GMTWw Shipmenthttp://www.witsview.com/MarketTrend/Post.aspx?PostId=3127In July, the consolidated sales revenue in the LCD sector from the 4 major Taiwan panel makers reached NTD 67.37 billion, a 17.1% decrease on month. On a YoY basis, it was equivalent to a 23.20% decline. The aggregate large-sized panel shipments in July were down sequentially by 12.2% to 14.24 million units. Compared to last year, they were down by 8.9%....Charlie LiangThu, 14 Aug 2008 15:24:00 GMTMarket Trendhttp://www.witsview.com/Intelligence/Column/Post.aspx?PostId=3116The recent large-sized panel price drops has once again highlighted the profitability pressure panel makers now face. Thus, their demand on upstream component makers for additional cost downs has grown as well. Excluding the more stable glass substrate prices, the price drops for the other components will be sharper than in 2Q08. Although progress has already been made on the component cost down, due to the sharp ASP drop, the material cost to ASP ratio in 3Q08 will still rise over the previous quarter. Some sizes will even approach the fully loaded cost level in the near future....Eric ChiouThu, 14 Aug 2008 10:05:56 GMTColumnhttp://www.witsview.com/MCI/Post.aspx?PostId=3090Between July 28, 2008 to August 08, 2008, the MCI index fell from 6364.0 to 6102.5, down by 261.5 points. As predicted by WitsView, the index mostly fluctuated above the 6000 level during the past two weeks. The fresh decline was reflected in the persisting panel price falls in 1HAug. According to WitsView’s estimation, prices are set to fall by 7~9% in the IT segment, while TV panels will slip by 3~5%....Charlie LiangMon, 11 Aug 2008 15:44:09 GMTMCIhttp://www.witsview.com/Intelligence/MarketStatus/Post.aspx?PostId=3048Amid the economic slowdown, consumer confidence is currently at a low point. Coupled by the unfortunate snowstorm, earthquake and flood events in China, a panel and set inventory glut have occurred. During the end of June, panel makers’ quarterly end shipment pressures and downstream vendors’ inventory controls led to a staggering panel price decline of...lany HuWed, 06 Aug 2008 14:31:56 GMTMarket Statushttp://www.witsview.com/Intelligence/MarketStatus/Post.aspx?PostId=3048Amid the economic slowdown, consumer confidence is currently at a low point. Coupled by the unfortunate snowstorm, earthquake and flood events in China, a panel and set inventory glut have occurred. During the end of June, panel makers’ quarterly end shipment pressures and downstream vendors’ inventory controls led to a staggering panel price decline of...lany HuWed, 06 Aug 2008 14:31:56 GMTMarket Trendhttp://www.witsview.com/MCI/Post.aspx?PostId=2967Between July 14, 2008 to July 25, 2008, the MCI index fell from 6599.2 to 6402.8, down by 196.4 points. Aside from the persisting downbeat outlook toward the TFT LCD industry, the decline was also attributed to the downfall in global markets, as the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage crisis once again highlighted the troubles in the housing sector. Thus, despite steep drops in the oil price during the past two weeks, the general economic outlook remained uncertain....Charlie LiangTue, 29 Jul 2008 13:56:44 GMTMCIhttp://www.witsview.com/Intelligence/WWShipment/Post.aspx?PostId=2856According to WitsView’s survey, worldwide large-size panel shipments in June reached 35.5 million units, an 8.4% MoM decrease and a 13% growth on year. For 2Q08, shipments totaled 110.8 million units, up quarterly by 7%. As June simultaneously marked a quarterly end and the mid-year inventory accounting, both the seller and buyer were under accounting and inventory pressures. Panel orders were cut by some of the brand vendors in June, despite panel makers trying...lany HuWed, 16 Jul 2008 18:52:11 GMTWw Shipmenthttp://www.witsview.com/MarketTrend/Post.aspx?PostId=2844In June, the consolidated sales revenue in the LCD sector from the 4 major Taiwan panel makers reached NTD 81.25 billion, a 15.8% decrease on month. On a YoY basis, there was no growth. The aggregate large-sized panel shipment in June was down sequentially by 11.1% to 16.17 million units. Compared to last year, they were up by 7.3%....Charlie LiangTue, 15 Jul 2008 17:08:42 GMTMarket Trendhttp://www.witsview.com/MCI/Post.aspx?PostId=2831Between June 30, 2008 to July 11, 2008, the MCI index dropped sharply from 7337.4 to 6765.1, down by another 572.4 points. As mentioned in WitsView’s last MCI report, the 7000 level was the next benchmark to observe. Thus, with the index level now almost 300 points lower than the 7000 mark, it further confirms the current weak market fundamentals of the TFT LCD industry....Charlie LiangMon, 14 Jul 2008 18:27:45 GMTMCIhttp://www.witsview.com/Intelligence/MarketStatus/Post.aspx?PostId=2766According to WitsView’s 1Q08 TFT LCD panel shipment survey, the annual growth rate reached 41.5%. Quarterly-wise, it was down by only 1.5%. Monitors and NBs still respectively posted a 1.2% and 1.4% growth. Meanwhile, TVs dropped sequentially by 9.9%. The stronger than usual IT panel shipments during the traditional slow first quarter resulted from a inventory pull-in, amid fears of panel prices increasing again in 2Q08. However,...lany HuMon, 07 Jul 2008 17:42:59 GMTMarket Statushttp://www.witsview.com/Intelligence/MarketStatus/Post.aspx?PostId=2766According to WitsView’s 1Q08 TFT LCD panel shipment survey, the annual growth rate reached 41.5%. Quarterly-wise, it was down by only 1.5%. Monitors and NBs still respectively posted a 1.2% and 1.4% growth. Meanwhile, TVs dropped sequentially by 9.9%. The stronger than usual IT panel shipments during the traditional slow first quarter resulted from a inventory pull-in, amid fears of panel prices increasing again in 2Q08. However,...lany HuMon, 07 Jul 2008 17:42:59 GMTMarket Trendhttp://www.witsview.com/MCI/Post.aspx?PostId=2705In terms of the global economic environment, it was further battered by rising inflation pressures and record high oil prices during the past two weeks. Between June 16, 2008 to June 27, 2008, the Dow Jones Industrial average declined from 12,269.08 to 11,346.51, down by a whooping 7.5%. Meanwhile, oil prices briefly reached a new high at $142 per barrel last Friday (June 27, 2008)....Charlie LiangMon, 30 Jun 2008 17:13:16 GMTMCIhttp://www.witsview.com/MarketTrend/Post.aspx?PostId=2593In May, the consolidated sales revenue in the LCD sector from the 4 major Taiwan panel makers reached NTD 96.50 billion, a 3.0% increase on month and a 27.6% growth on year. The aggregate large-sized panel shipment in May was up sequentially by 3.6% to 18.18 million units. Compared to last year, they were up by 25.1%...Charlie LiangTue, 17 Jun 2008 17:11:07 GMTMarket Trendhttp://www.witsview.com/MCI/Post.aspx?PostId=2577The market uncertainty surrounding the TFT LCD industry took a further hit as the MCI index fell past the 8000 level. Between June 2, 2008 to June 15, 2008, the MCI index plunged 512.8 points, falling from 8306.2 to 7793.4. The general concern remained focused on the weak panel demand, especially in the TV segment, and the fact that panel prices have once again trended downwards in June by...Charlie LiangMon, 16 Jun 2008 15:37:25 GMTMCIhttp://www.witsview.com/Intelligence/WWShipment/Post.aspx?PostId=2555According to WitsView’s survey, worldwide large-size panel shipments in May reached 38.7 million units, a 6% MoM increase and a 25.4% growth on year. Looking back at 2007, shipments began to notably increase in Mar07. Rising by a monthly average of 7%, growth only started to slow down in Nov07, as downstream vendors concluded their inventory preparations for the year-end Christmas sales. The same trend was witnessed in the panel price segment as well. Prices started to...Charlie LiangThu, 12 Jun 2008 18:06:10 GMTWw Shipment