Global sales of LCD panels are predicted to soar over the next few years, market research firm iSuppli has suggested.

The firm has announced that it is to up its forecast for LCD sales between 2005 and 2009 by a quarter, as costs remain relatively low and demand continues to surge.

Falling prices during 2005 triggered massive interest in LCD screens, particularly in the television market, and that demand has caused many manufacturers to up their production targets for 2006.

"Upcoming production capacity, declining prices for LCD panels and television sets and escalating consumer interest and adoption have led iSuppli to upwardly revise its estimate and forecast for LCD-TV shipments," explained Riddhi Patel, principal analyst on television systems for iSuppli.

The company is now predicting that sales of LCD units could hit 76.7 million by 2009, up from its earlier estimate of 61.2 million.

In October last year, the president of Samsung’s LCD division, Sang-Wan Lee, suggested that the international LCD market can hit 100 million units by 2010.


Ÿ Adfero Ltd