Flat panel sales continue to expand in Q1

Professional market segment worldwide notches up encouraging figures with developed nations weakest

Flat panel sales to the professional market rose in Q1 although market conditions remain difficult for many display vendors and developed markets continue to struggle for more traction.

That is a summary from Futuresource Consulting, which has just released its Q1 update on the global pro flat panel market, which found expansion of 8.5 per cent in volume terms quarter on quarter, and sales up 30 per cent – reaching 523,000 units – year on year.

"[However] EMEA and the Americas continue to struggle to find the traction for consistent strong growth, which the market is awaiting. Key developed markets, such as the US, Germany, France and UK, are offering opportunities, with a number of projects helping to drive sales and the MEA region is showing signs of potential with quarter-on-quarter growth of 20.3 per cent," the firm said in its announcement.

Unsurprisingly, Asia-Pacific did well, led by China. Japan, however, is doing better now partly due to a stronger yen, according to Futuresource.

Futuresource highlighted the super-narrow-bezel segment as one no longer doing so well, against large screens which are seeing more growth in the 55in and larger category in places such as Turkey.