Sales of LCD TVs outpaced conventional TVs for the first time in Asia in 2006, according to figures from market research firm GfK Asia.

Annual TV sales in Asia are nearing $22bn, made up of 40 per cent LCDs, 39 per cent conventional TVs, 18 per cent plasma and three per cent rear-projection.

On a volume basis, LCD TVs outsold plasma TVs four-to-one in 2006. In all, more than 50 million TVs were sold by retailers in 13 countries across the Asian region last year.

"The future is certainly bright for LCD screens in Asia," said Steven Kaiser, commercial director of consumer electronics at GfK Asia.

"We expect LCD televisions to continue a strong advance in 2007 and see a regional growth rate of 72 per cent for volumes in the year ahead."

Markets such as The Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, which had seen relatively low LCD television volumes in 2005, exhibited robust increases in 2006 as the products gained a solid foothold throughout the Asian region, said Kaiser.

More than four million LCD televisions were sold at Chinese retailers in 2006, forecast to reach eight million in 2007.