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Technology Stocks : Applied Materials No-Politics Thread (AMAT) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Proud_Infidel who wrote (4804)	1/7/2003 8:58:03 AM
From: Proud_Infidel	Respond to of 25522

Worldwide Digital Camera Production Tops 26.54 Mln. in 2002; Tougher Competition Ahead: Nikkei Market Access January 7, 2003 (TOKYO) -- The production of digital still cameras is buoyant. According to a survey conducted by Nikkei Market Access, the production of digital cameras for all of 2002 increased 59.3 percent to 26.54 million units. The production volume of digital cameras in the first quarter of 2002 increased a slight 13.2 percent compared to the same period the previous year. However, after the first quarter, the growth rates climbed steeply at a range of 40 percent to 100 percent year-on-year. Seeing this, digital camera makers are coming on strong with their production plans for 2003. The total production volume planned by such makers combined is to reach as much as 40 million units. Nikkei Market Access forecasts that the digital camera market will continuously grow in 2003, but the growth rate will slow down compared to that of 2002. Still, Nikkei Market Access forecasts that the growth rate and the production volume will be 18.3 percent and 31.40 million units, respectively. Market to Grow to 30 Mln., Less Than Makers' Bullish Production Plans The worldwide digital camera market in 2002 showed a higher growth than expected. Nikkei Market Access forecast that the global digital camera production for the full year of 2002 would be 19.27 million as of February 2002. Seeing the makers' production, Nikkei Market Access revised its forecast upward to 22.70 million units in July 2002. After that time, it grew even faster than the expectation, and the production volume for the full year of 2002 is expected to exceed 4 million units as of December 2002, topping the figure forecast in July. Digital camera makers are showing bullish production plans for 2003. Some large makers plan to increase production by 50 percent to 60 percent year-on-year. However, as for the unit-based production of digital cameras for 2003, each maker forecasts it will be around 30 million units at most. This means that the reason behind their bullish production plan is to increase their market share, as they know the market expansion will not be too drastic. In 2002, the market growth rate was so great that each maker could see robust growth, while making efforts for a larger market share. However, it is difficult to expect the market in 2003 to grow at the same rate as that in 2002. In addition, as the growth rate of the Japanese market also is expected to slow down in 2003, the market situation will be different substantially. Therefore, Nikkei Market Access forecasts that the global digital camera production on a unit basis will certainly surpass the 30-million mark in 2003, though it is not likely to grow at the rate of more than 20 percent from the previous year. * Note: figures for 2002 and 2003 are estimates. Related story: World Digital Camera Production in 2001 Down 20 Pct. Y-O-Y to 16.33 Mln. Units (Ken Nakamura, Nikkei Market Access)