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Politics : Formerly About Applied Materials -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Duker who wrote (32913)	10/21/1999 9:39:00 AM
From: Proud_Infidel	Respond to of 70976

TFT-LCD Panels Expected to Command High Prices October 21, 1999 (TAIPEI) -- After rapid surges in prices over the past year, the short supply of large-size TFT-LCD panels appears to have gotten some relief due in part to the start of shipments from Taiwan producers. Chung Hwa Picture Tubes Ltd. and Acer Display Technology Inc. began to ramp up production in the third quarter of this year, while Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp., Unipac Optoelectronics Corp., and HannStar Optoelectronics Corp. plan to begin churning out TFT-LCD panels after the second quarter of 2000. Although the sudden increase in supply may cause the prices of 15-in. TFT-LCD panels to slip from a high of US$650 a unit in the second quarter of next year, local notebook PC manufacturers still anticipate strong demand for the product in the long run. In an effort to maximize cost efficiency and profit margins, TFT-LCD makers have been devoting the majority of their production lines to the output of large-sized panels. However, since the exorbitant price of US$650 per unit for a 15-in. panel has slowed the expansion of the TFT-LCD monitor market, some companies are shifting part of their production to 13-in. and 14-in. panels. This strategy may keep the prices of these panels high until the first quarter of next year, according to market observers. The short supply of TFT-LCD panels has taken its toll on Taiwan-based makers of notebook PCs. Quanta Computer Corp., for example, is predicting a decrease in October shipments. However, T. R. Lee, financial manager of the PC maker, said that Quanta is still confident of reaching its annual shipment target this year. Compal Electronic Inc., Arima Computer Co., Ltd, First International Computer Inc., Twinhead International Corp., and Clevo Co. still expect their October shipments to reach monthly highs for the year. Nevertheless, these companies said that they could have done better without the impact from the Sept. 21 earthquake and the subsequent power rationing. (Commercial Times, Taiwan)