BLU Market to Hit US$19 B. Revenue in 2012: DisplayBank

Taipei, March 14, 2011 (CENS)--The global backlight unit (BLU) market hit around US$16.8 billion in 2010, and is expected to reach a new peak of US$19 billion in 2012, but begin to decline thereafter, according to Displaybank.

The Korea-based electronic display market research company recently pointed out that BLU demand would continue to increase, but the market revenue is predicted to decrease after 2012 due to price reduction.

TV BLU market is expected to record US$10.7 billion and accounts for 64% of the overall market in 2010. The TV BLU market share is projected to increase up to 72% in 2014 along with the increasing demand for liquid crystal display (LCD) TVs. Accordingly, DisplayBank said, monitor and Notebook-PC BLU markets are expected to drop in market shares.

Establishments of joint ventures between TV-set and thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panel makers, as well as in-house LCD module (LCM) manufacturing by set makers were active in 2010. In particular, the joint ventures set up between LGD and Taiwan-based TV and monitor original equipment manufacturing (OEM) makers, TPV and AU Optronics Corp. (AUO), were prominent.

DisplayBank said that TFT-LCD panel makers now recognize the importance of customer foundation, so they endeavor to divide the risk of realizing the global LCM bases with set makers through joint ventures. Set makers also recognize the need for an aggressive collaboration with panel makers to realize enhanced market target and stable panel sourcing.

Such global LCM joint-venture movement, according to DisplayBank, expanded not only to Europe, but also to South America. Brands with their own TV productions are aggressive towards the integration of LCM process at global factories.

On the other hand, an increasing number of BLU makers participate in LCM OEM. They intend to raise revenue and profit by utilizing excellent labor force and product quality management capacity by expanding conventional production basis, the research firm said.

Global LCM JV Establishment by LGD and AUO
LGD		AUO
LCM Location	JV Partner	LCM Location	JV Partner
Suzhou, Central China	Amtran	Huizhou, South China	TCL King Electrical Appliances
Guangzhou, South China	Skyworks	Qingdao, North China	Haier Group
Fuzhou, South China	TPV	Mianyang, West China	Changhong
Xiamen, South China	TPV	Guangdong, South China	Wistron
		Czech, Europe	TPV
		Brazil, South America	TPV
Source: DisplayBank