WitsView: LCD Monitor Shipments Rebounded from Rock Bottom in February 2012

According to the Worldwide LCD Monitor Shipments Report from WitsView, the panel research division of TrendForce, both global top 10 LCD monitor brands and SIs’ shipments rebounded from rock bottom in Feb-12. Shipments of brand vendors amounted to 11.07 million units with MoM growth of 11.1%, contributed by recovered pull-in momentum in China after the Lunar New Year and lower base period in Jan-12; while SI shipments reached 11.35 million units with an increased MoM of 9.9%, aided by the employees’ returning to work in Feb-12 that caused the capacity to resume. However, due to fewer working days in Feb. and extra time needed for labor and material to resume after the long holidays, SI shipments presented a slower uptrend.

Estimated Shipments for Global Top 10 LCD Monitor Brands and SIs for 1Q12

Source: WitsView, March 2012

Anita Wang, WitsView’s analyst, indicated that the shipments in 2Q12 is projected to grow by 4~6%, benefitting from three factors: 1) lower base period in 1Q12, 2) some brand vendors targeting business markets are launching new-models in 2Q12, 3) business market orders are mostly projected to gradually begin shipping in 2Q12.

Notwithstanding 2Q12’s projected uptrend in shipments, the overall shipments in 1H12 are expected to be weaker than last year since downstream vendors’ purchase momentum was pushed forth by panel price rebounding from rock bottom in 1Q11, prior to the European debt crisis, the downstream vendors held positive attitude toward the full-year shipments; as a result, the inventory stocking was higher in 1Q11. However, affected by a full-year lackluster end-market demand, downstream vendors’ attitude toward stock preparations turned conservative, causing the expected shipments in 1H12 to slightly decline by 3~5% YoY. Differed from the 50/50 to 1H/2H in previous years, the shipments in 2012 are forecasted to increase over quarters.  

According to WitsView, an increased YoY in 2012’s LCD monitor shipments depends on the 2H12 shipments. The shipment performance will be affected by the following factors: 1) a recovered macroeconomic environment, 2) if the introductions of Ultrabook and Windows 8, Microsoft’s new operating system, are able to push the next NB upgrade cycle and further spur sales of computer peripherals, 3) the rebounded point for panel price.