Global Shipment of Tablet PCs Will Double in 2011: Goldman Sachs

Taipei, Sept. 29, 2010 (CENS)--Following its meteoric rise this year, the tablet-PC market will continue to expand phenomenally next year, when its global shipment will top 35 million units, more than double this year's 16 million, predicted Goldman Sachs yesterday (Sept. 28).

During 2010 Asia Technology Forum held by the company in Hong Kong, it also presented market outlook on various hi-tech products next year, including uncertainty for semiconductor, the mainstream status of medium- and high-end mobile phones, and upturn of demand for FPD (flat panel display).

The expected booming business of tablet PCs will benefit Hon Hai and other major component suppliers but will only have limited effect on hard disk drive and IC substrate suppliers, as tablet PCs have only limited demand for such products, due to their feature of lightness and thinness.

The company maintained a neutral to cautious outlook for the semiconductor industry next year, as memory products, such as DRAM and NAND, have entered the stage of post-peak price correction, which will last until the first quarter next year, due to weak market demand.

Goldman Sachs said 2011 will be a year full of opportunities for smart phones, mainly because replacement demand from emerging markets and medium- and high-end mobile will emerge as mainstream items on the market next year. Contract makers for medium- and low-end models, however, will suffer further decline in profits next year, according to the company.