LCD Exported for 1.2 Billion Dollars in the 1st Quarter Increasing 21 Percent

Thin Film Transistor-Liquid Crystal Display (TFT-LCD) is emerging as a main item for export.

According to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy (MOCIE) on the 13th, domestic companies’ export of TFT-LCD in the 1st quarter is estimated at 1.2 billion dollars increased by 21 percent from 990 million dollars in the same period last year. The export in the 2nd quarter is estimated at 1.4 to 1.5 billion dollars.

Especially, as Samsung Electronics and LG Philips operate the 5th-generation LCD line, the export is likely to make a record high 5.7 to 6 billion dollars increasing 39 to 46 percent from 4.1 billion dollars last year, estimated MOCIE.

The export of TFT-LCD decreased 23 percent last year due to the price fall after continual high development of average 69 percent since 1996 with the export for 300 million dollars in 1996, 700 million dollars in 1997, 1.1 billion dollars in 1998, 3.9 billion dollars in 1999, 5.3 billion dollars in 2000, and 4.1 billion dollars in 2001.

MOCIE said, “ export is increasing as LCD monitor market is growing with the increasing demands for substituting cathode-ray tubes, and Notebook PC market is growing in stability. Short supply is likely to continue till the 1st quarter next year. ”

Ja-Ryong Koo bonhong@donga.com