Local firms edge Japan in flat-screen TV sales

Korean flat-screen TV makers outstripped their Japanese rivals in terms of global market share for the first time in the fourth quarter, an industry report showed yesterday.

Samsung Electronics and rival LG Electronics clinched a combined share of 34 percent in the global flat-screen TV market in the final quarter of 2011, according to DisplaySearch, a market research firm.

Japanese TV makers trailed with 31 percent, giving Korean firms an edge for the first quarter to date.

China came in third with a market share of 20 percent followed by Europe with 4 percent, the U.S. with 3 percent and Taiwan with 1 percent.

Samsung last year sold 43.8 million units up 4.5 million from that of 2010. In the fourth quarter alone, the company sold nearly 16 million units.

In terms of annual performance, Japanese companies, including Sony, owned 35 percent of the market, however, while their Korean counterparts claimed 33 percent.

Market watchers said the Korean TV makers will likely show strong performances worldwide this year on the back of a planned lineup of premium TVs.

Samsung and LG are increasing efforts to sell smart TVs this year as they bet on growing consumer demand for wired devices.

Samsung aims to sell around 50 million flat-screen TVs this year, about half of which will be smart TVs. LG is seeking to raise the global market share of its 3-D TVs to more than 25 percent this year, which would make it the world’s top player in this segment.

Meanwhile, the global TV market shrunk 0.3 percent, affected by the worldwide fear of global recession.

Yonhap