Sales of large-size LCD panels hit a new high during July, new figures from research firm DataBank have revealed.

The results show that shipments topped 17 million units, representing a 10.6 per cent increase from the previous month and delivering profits of US$3.51 billion, up from the previous record of US$3.33 billion, which was posted in May last year.

Despite the general downturn in TFT LCD panel sales and profits, which has been continuing since June 2004, the large-size panels are becoming increasingly popular with consumers.

That trend also helped to push up average selling prices, and DisplayBank suggests that the growth is also to do with the fact that the market had been constrained during the first half of 2005 because of a Dothan CPU supply shortage.

However, a number of research firms, including WitsView Technology and iSuppli, have warned that the industry faces an oversupply of TFT LCD panels by the beginning of 2006, which would result in a drop in cost.

Market researchers at Strategy Analytics Connected Home Devices have predicted that global sales of flat panel TVs will rocket by 66 per cent this year, with the use of pgms in the manufacturing process potentially yielding rewards for platinum producers.


Ÿ Adfero Ltd