Analysts are predicting that global sales of flat panel TVs will rocket by 66 per cent this year, with potentially profitable implications for pgm producers.

An increase of this nature would bring in retail revenues of around $25 billion, according to the Strategy Analytics Connected Home Devices service.

That means that by the end 2005 there could be an extra 17.5 million plasma TVs in households worldwide.

"Our research demonstrates further significant growth potential for flat panel TV vendors," said the director of Strategy Analytics Connected Home Devices service, Peter King.

He continued: "Consumers love flat panel TVs, and are anxious to purchase them as soon as they become more affordable.

"As prices continue to fall, we remain confident that annual sales globally will soar towards and beyond the hundred million unit mark."

At present 98 per cent of the world's TV homes are still without flat panel TVs.

As such, it gives vendors a massive chance to target these untapped segments in order to increase sales.

It is predicted that by 2010 annual sales will reach 83.5 million units with retail revenues of $45 billion.

LCD technology continues to dominate the flat panel TV market. LCD TV sales in 2004 reached 8.3 million units, compared to sales of 2.2 million plasma TVs.

Platinum producers will be heartened by the news, with the precious metal essential in the production of LCD.