TFT-LCD Industry Has a Rosy Future

The Korean 'Thin Film Transitor - Liquid Crystal Display' (TFT-LCD) industry is predicted to prosper as a result of an increase in demand and a strong Japanese yen. TFT-LCD is used in many products including laptop computer monitors.
Four makers including Samsung, LG, and Hyundai recently started 24 hour production to meet the demand. Samsung increased its production from 100,000 units at the beginning of this year to 300,000 units in September. LG also raised its output from 100,000 units at the first half of this year to 300,000 units in the second after it built new production facilities in Europe.
The increase in demand stems from consumers' preference for larger monitors in desktop and laptop computers. The Nikkei Microdevice, a Japan-based magazine reported that demand (24 million units) will be more than production capacity (21 million units) world wide. Samsung ranked first in the world market with a 16.7% share, followed by Sharp (15.7%), Toshiba (12.7%), NEC (12.7%), and LG (7.8%).