BenQ dominates the regional LCD market

According to market analysts BNA, BenQ sold 2212 units in 2005 in Egypt while its nearest competitor sold 1132 units and registered 22 per cent market share. Overall BenQ secured the fourth position in LCD monitor segment in the Middle East and Africa. The demand for LCD monitors is growing exponentially in the region and industry analysts' credit LCD monitors' improved performance and consumers' health concerns, LCD monitors emit no radiation, as the key reasons for their strong performance. According to IDC reports, in the Middle East, LCD monitors passed a watershed stage in February 2003, when sales surpassed those of traditional CRT monitors that previously dominated the market.

"Out of the estimated market size of 1.08 million sets for LCD monitors in the Middle East, BenQ aims to capture a substantial share in 2006," said Robert Dung, managing director, BenQ Middle East and Africa.

"We currently produce several of the most innovative LCD models in the world and our strategy for monitors is to have the widest range across a number of screen sizes of any brand in the market. Customers are becoming aware of the benefits of LCD technology and this has converted into higher sales across the region."

Prices for liquid crystal display monitors have fallen substantially due to oversupply and, according to IDC Asia Pacific, further price drops are possible. IDC also predicts that demand for LCD monitors is likely to surpass traditional cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors by 2008. As the new generation of slim, stylish space-saving LCD monitors hit the market, and the average price stabilises, BenQ anticipates rapidly accelerating sales for LCD monitors.

BenQ has opened new production lines to meet high levels of demand for LCD monitors and is shipping a larger volume of monitors to the region than ever before.

Taiwan based LCD panel makers will provide more than 30 per cent of the panels for LCD TV production by Korean manufacturers this year, up from 20 per cent in 2005. The procurement of LDC TVs from Taiwan by China based LCD TV brands will also more than double to around two billion dollars in 2006, up from US$ 900 million last year.

The company recently unveiled the BenQ FP93G X, the world's fastest 19-inch LCD monitor featuring a 2ms gray-to-gray response time, a slim 13mm bezel and a high contrast ratio of 700:1.

"Our own internal research at the end of last year showed there was a huge appetite for LCD monitors in the region, but demand has outstripped our most optimistic predictions," said Dung.