In Gloomy Europe, Makers See Rainbow in Digital A/V Products

摘要

In Europe, demand for audio-video (A/V) products overall is stagnant as the region struggles under an economic slowdown. The situation is especially severe in Germany. However, demand for such emerging digital A/V products as plasma display panel (PDP) TVs, LCD TVs and DVD recorders, is picking up. Manufacturers have been gearing up in anticipation of stronger demand for these products near the end of the year. In 2004, the current 15-member European Union will expand to 25 members, including many from eastern Europe. Eyeing opportunities related to this expansion, Korean, Chinese and Taiwanese manufacturers, as well as Japanese and European manufacturers, are more aggressively cultivating business in Europe. The European A/V industry has been experiencing difficult times. Demand for A/V products in 10 important European countries declined an average of 4.6 percent in the two month period of July and August, compared to the same two months of 2002, according to Matsushita Electric Europe (Headquarters) Ltd. In Germany, with an unemployment rate of 12 percent, demand for A/V products dropped 9.3 percent from July and August, compared to the same period in 2002.