LCD prices to stay firm in Q3 - research firm

SEOUL (Reuters) - Prices of flat screens for televisions, computers and laptops will rise in the third quarter and growing demand will help revenues rise 35 percent to a record high, a US-based research firm said on Friday.

Average selling prices of large-sized liquid crystal displays (LCDs) rebounded 2 percent to US$192 in the second quarter from the previous quarter, ending three consecutive quarterly falls, helped by tight supply and strong demand, DisplaySearch said.

"With volume expected to remain strong in the third quarter, up 8 percent from the previous quarter and 61 percent from a year ago and prices firming, revenue is expected to rise 35 percent year-on-year to a record US$11.1 billion in the third quarter," it said in the statement.

Shipments grew faster than expected in the second quarter, rising 46 percent to 50 million units from a year ago.

But revenues edged down 3 percent to US$9.6 billion because average selling prices dropped 34 percent from a year ago as manufacturers spent billions of dollars boosting production, betting demand for TVs and computer monitors -- the two major products that use LCD screens -- would grow.

South Korea's LG Philips LCD Co Ltd, which overtook Samsung Electronics Co Ltd as the world's top LCD maker this year, held a 23.4 percent share of the market, while Samsung accounted for 20.2 percent.

Taiwan's AU Optronics Corp held 13.9 percent and Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp had a 11.3 percent share.