19-inch & above LCD PC monitors

	Model M22HJU from China Great Wall is a 19in widescreen LCD monitor that supports 1440x900 pixel resolution and 16:10 aspect ratio.

Monitors with 19in or larger panels are looking to dominate other sizes. Asia-Pacific is set to fuel market growth.

China LCD monitor suppliers, which began making 19in and larger LCD monitors in 2006, have been experiencing rapid market growth in the past two years. The line now accounts for more than 65 percent of the region’s total LCD monitor production. As more companies roll out larger monitors, the market share is expected to increase to 75 percent in 2009.

The rising supply of larger LCD panels is encouraging more makers to focus on 19in and larger LCD monitors. IDC forecast that global shipments of 19in LCD monitors will rise from 31.4 million units in 2007 to 76.2 million by 2012.

Market growth will be driven by rising demand from the Asia-Pacific region, Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Canada. Meanwhile, demand from developed countries, including the US, Japan and Western Europe, will remain flat or even decline.

China’s supply of large LCD monitors comprises 19, 20, 21.5, 22in and bigger units. Models with screen sizes from 19 to 21.5in are expected to enter the mainstream in the next two years. Widescreen monitors are available in 16:9 and 16:10 aspect ratio versions. Output volume of widescreen monitors will continue to rise along with the increase in supply of widescreen panels, which was driven by panel suppliers’ shift from 5G to 6G production lines.
Projections from IDC indicate that by 2012, the widescreen LCD monitor segment will account for 94.3 percent of global LCD monitor output, from 37.2 percent in 2007.

Makers’ product development plans are largely influenced by their target niche markets. Companies such as China Great Wall Computer Shenzhen Co. Ltd, for instance, customize their products to students, Internet bars and retailers. Huike Electronics Co. Ltd, on the other hand, designs its LCD monitors to compete with LCD TVs. The manufacturer emphasizes dynamic contrast control and plans to integrate HDMI and speakers into its new releases.

Shenzhen KTC Computer Technology Co. Ltd incorporates digital photo frame functions into its LCD monitors. Weihai Daewoo Electronics Co. Ltd offers large LCD monitors covered with steel glass to protect and extend the LCD panel’s shelf life.

China makers’ export markets for large LCD monitors are Europe and Asia. More suppliers are exploring emerging markets in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

Companies such as China Great Wall and Shenzhen KTC are targeting potential markets in Africa and Southeast Asia, and preparing market expansion plans in Europe and Southeast Asia, respectively. Huike plans to set up sales offices in India and Russia.

Huike has two production facilities for LCD monitors, one in Shenzhen in Guangdong province and the other in Beihai in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Monthly capacity reaches 250,000 LCD monitors.

China Great Wall has a total of five production lines for LCD monitors in its Shenzhen and Beihai factories. The company can produce 4 million LCD monitors a year. It plans to increase capacity by 15 percent.

The LCD panel is the key component of an LCD monitor, accounting for nearly 75 percent of total production costs. Thus, any fluctuation in the cost of LCD panels will significantly affect prices of LCD monitors.

From July to September 2008, the average cost of 19in TN LCD panels and 19in widescreen LCD panels decreased by 37 percent from $144 to $92 and from $127 to $80, respectively. During the same period, the average cost of 20 and 22in LCD panels declined by 35 percent. These reductions were mainly brought about by decreased demand for large panels during the first three quarters of 2008.

In Q3 last year, suppliers of large LCD panels started reducing their monthly output to avert further reductions. Nevertheless, companies remain optimistic. They do not expect a shortage and instead forecast that the cost of 19in and larger panels will stabilize.

Taiwan’s LCD monitor industry experienced a downturn in 2008, with a 2.7 percent export volume decline of 113 million units from 2007, Market Intelligence & Consulting Institute (MIC) figures reveal. Total export value decreased by 14.2 percent at $15.83 billion. The MIC forecasts a 1 percent increase in shipment volume in 2009, but the export value will continue to slide.

Despite the gloomy outlook, Taiwan continues to consolidate its position as the world’s leading supplier of LCD monitors. Data from MIC indicate that makers here will account for more than 70 percent of worldwide LCD monitor shipments this year.

Widescreen LCD monitors from the island typically have built-in speakers, multicard readers, 1.3MP webcams and USB ports. Some models come with TV tuners, remote controls and USB speakers. Standard 22in monitors deliver 1680x1050 pixel resolution. Models with 22 and 24in widescreen LCDs support an HD resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. Monitors with 26 and 28in widescreen panels feature 1920x1200 pixel resolution.

Active LCD monitor makers include Great Sun Tech Corp., ViewSonic International Corp. and BenQ Corp.