MANHASSET, N.Y. — Sales of liquid crystal display (LCD) desktop monitors outpaced CRT monitor sales in the third quarter despite the inability of the market to adjust to lower panel pricing, according to market research firm DisplaySearch Inc.
The Austin-based market research firm said LCD monitors reached 16.9 million units in sales, growing 31 percent year-over-year and 12 percent from the previous quarter to outsell CRT monitors. LCD monitor shipments are expected to reach 19.9 million units in the fourth quarter and account for 54 percent of monitor sales, the firm said.
While LCD panel prices started falling mid-year, they were not reflected in monitor prices until late in the third quarter due to high channel inventories, said DisplaySearch. Thus, LCD monitor shipments fell short of expectations despite overtaking CRTs.
With average street prices finally dropping in almost all categories by the end of the third quarter, the overall weighted average price for LCD monitors dropped from $465 down to $440.
17 in. monitors accounted for 50 percent of LCD monitor sales in the quarter, while 15in. monitors accounted for 33.5 percent as production allocation continues to shift to large displays. In addition, wide aspect monitors, such as those from Apple and emerging from Dell, are beginning to grow, said DisplaySearch.
Dell was the largest LCD monitor supplier with 16.4 percent of sales, down from 17.6 percent the previous quarter. Second-place Samsung saw its market share grow to 10.3 percent from 9.7 percent a quarter earlier, due to growth in North America and Europe. BenQ's rising sales propelled it into becoming the fifth largest LCD monitor supplier with a 4.6 percent market share.
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