Flat-panel prices to fall in 2005

摘要

Flat-panel TV prices will continue to tumble in 2005, matching the double-digit declines of a year ago on worldwide sales of more than 16 million units, industry officials say. The sales will be heavily weighted toward LCD TV (around 13 million units), with a majority of those in the sub-40" sizes, while plasma TV (about 3 million units) continue to dominate in the larger screen sizes. Plasma and LCD TVs will continue to stake out separate markets. LCD TVs, despite the recent influx of some 42" and 46" models, will focus on screen sizes under 37 inches, while plasma maintains its leadership in 42" up, according to industry officials. While there may be some overlap between the two technologies, it will be several years before LCD manufacturers establish production lines capable of manufacturing LCDs larger than 40 inches in high volume quantities, says Robert Perry, vice president of sales at LG Electronics. In contrast, plasma production, while making some inroads among sizes down to 32 inches, has concentrated on large screen TVs, with the 42" models accounting for about 60% of total sales, notes Riddhi Patel, a senior analyst for displays at iSuppli Corp.