Widescreen LCD displays to take over the market

Worldwide sales of widesecreen LCD monitors are set to grow to 146.9 million units by 2011, rising at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 74.3% from only 9.1 million units in 2006, according to iSuppli.

The year 2007 alone will see end-user sales nearly quadruple to 35.8 million units.

Meanwhile, revenues will grow to US$20.9 billion by 2011, rising at a 55% CAGR from US$2.3 billion in 2006. In 2007, revenues will triple to US$6.7 billion. By 2009, widescreen LCD monitors will account for the largest share of the LCD monitor market in terms of revenue and shipments, surpassing traditional-standard displays.

The widescreen cut allows for more efficient glass utilization than standard-format panels, making the format a favorite of LCD panel manufacturers, but end-users in the monitor market have lagged behind TV and notebook users in adopting the new standard, said Rhoda Alexander, director of monitor research at iSuppli. With the introduction of Vista, which favors a widescreen display and attractive pricing on wide-format offerings, monitor users are finally shifting to wide alternatives. Adoption varies substantially by region, with China leading the way to date in widescreen adoption, Alexander added.