Samsung expands presence in China`s display, TV markets

SEOUL, Sept. 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korean electronics giant Samsung Electronics
Co. has widely expanded its presence in China's display and TV markets this year,
market reports said Thursday.
According to the global market researcher GfK, liquid crystal display (LCD) TVs
made by Samsung accounted for 11 percent of the Chinese market in July, up 3.3
percentage points from the 7.7 percent tallied for January.
The company climbed three notches to third place in July, trailing Chinese TV
maker Hisense Electric Co. with 13.3 percent and Skyworth Digital Holdings Co.
with 11.8 percent.
Industry sources said Samsung is also in close competition with the leading
supplier of display panels in China. In terms of LCD panels sold, Samsung was in
second place, selling 654,000 TV units in July, while Taiwan's Chi Mei
Optoelectronics Corp. sold 684,000 units.
The Samsung figure reflected a steep rise from 356,000 units in March and 66,000
units in January. Taiwan's No. 1 flat panel maker, AU Optronics Corp., followed
in third place, selling some 200,000 units.
Market analysts attributed Samsung's growth in China to its aggressive marketing
activities, largely spurred by a Chinese government campaign encouraging domestic
consumption of electronic appliances.
The LCD TV market in China is expected to record a 76 percent year-on-year
increase to 22.6 million units this year. In 2011, the figure will reach 36.9
million units, according to South Korean-based research firm DisplayBank.
South Korean companies have been continuously making efforts to secure dominance
in the Chinese market. LG Display Co., the world's second-largest flat panel
maker, announced last month it was pushing to build its first LCD plant in China.
Samsung Electronics also said it was considering building an advanced LCD plant
in China.
ygkim@yna.co.kr
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