EL SEGUNDO, CA – Shipments of large-sized TFT-LCD panels reached 47.1 million units in June, up 26.2% year-over-year and 9% sequentially, says iSuppli Corp.

The growth rate accelerated from 6.9% in May and 6.2% in April on demand for all major LCD segments.

"June marked the first month in 2009 that all three large-sized LCD panel applications (i.e., televisions, notebooks and desktop PC monitors) showed year-over-year expansions in shipments," observed Sweta Dash, senior director for LCD Research at iSuppli. "With the market hitting on all cylinders, the strong demand outlook for panel purchase is expected to continue through the third quarter, as brands prepare for strong sales in the upcoming Christmas season."

The growth in the large-sized LCD segment was led mainly by rising sales of television and notebook panels with increases of 9.2% and 9.1%, respectively. This was followed by monitor panels, which climbed 8.3%.

"Nevertheless, there is fear that panel supply may be tight because of various factors, including the continuing glass shortage, as well as the recent earthquake in Japan that has damaged Corning’s glass tanks and impacted glass supply for Sharp’s eighth-generation fab."

Buyers, seeing significant price increases in July, were willing to buy extra panels in quantity. Preliminary data show Christmas buying and fear of further panel supply tightness due to glass shortages kept panel demand positive in August. Panel demand is expected to remain strong through the third quarter, according to the research firm.

For the second quarter, global large-sized LCD panel shipments were up 43% sequentially, and up 12% from the second quarter of 2008.

The strong growth in demand, combined with tight supply, resulted in 20% to 25% panel price increases for mainstream large-sized LCD panels from March to June. The rise in pricing helped panel suppliers move away from below-cost pricing and losses and toward profitability for all applications by the end of the second quarter.

Shipments of monitor panels in June reached 17.8 million units, representing a better-than-expected growth of 8.3% from May and an 8.5% rise from June 2008, says iSuppli.

Unit shipments of TV panels reached 13.2 million in June, rising sharply by 61.8% from a year earlier, and up by 9.2% sequentially.

Shipments of notebook panels, including 10" displays, reached 15.3 million units in June.

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