S. Korean companies expand control in U.S. LCD TV market

SEOUL, Sept. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korean liquid crystal display TV (LCD TV)
manufacturers expanded their presence in the large U.S. market in the first two
months of the third quarter, a market research company said Sunday.
NPD Market Research said Samsung Electronics Co., which is one of the world's
largest suppliers of LCD TVs, held a 24.7 percent and a 24.4 percent share of the
U.S. market in July and August, respectively, compared to a 13.6 percent and 9.6
percent share held by runner up Sony.
LG Electronics came in third with an 8.8 percent and 7.7 percent share for the
two months. The company, which had surrendered its third place standing to
Japan's Toshiba in April, was able to make a comeback in July and may be able
challenge Sony's No. 2 position if it maintain its current momentum.
NPD, meanwhile, said that Samsung and LG both managed to increase the number of
TV sets they sold in August compared to July, while Sony's sales figures
declined.
In terms of market share measured by value, Samsung's hold in the world's single
largest consumer market stood at 38.1 percent and 38.3 percent each in July and
August, far ahead of Sony's numbers that reached 20.1 percent and 16.9 percent
for the two months.
LG's market share stood at 9.9 percent and 9.3 percent during the period.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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