BenQ leads regional projector business

BenQ has delivered a strong performance in the projector market in the region last year and increased its share of the market from 23.78 per cent at the beginning of this year to take the dominant position in Saudi Arabia. In the UAE, BenQ grew its market from 8.16 per cent at the end of the first quarter 2006 to 13.05 per cent by the end of June this year.

According to research conducted by UK-based market research firm DTC (Decision Tree Consulting) BenQ ranks second worldwide in terms of market share in the projector market, ahead of competitors like NEC, Hitachi, Optoma, Toshiba, Sony and Sharp.

"We are a dominant player in the regional projector market, and are targeting a 25 per cent growth in sales this year," said Manish Bakshi, general manager, BenQ Middle East. "By introducing innovative, well-designed and affordable technology, we have been able to grow our business in the region last year. Demand for projection technology, that integrates both portability and performance, is on the rise and the imaging market is peaking in terms of competitiveness.

"We believe BenQ's technological advantages, manufacturing infrastructure and R&D investment will help us capture an impressive market share for product groups in the region."

Overall, BenQ has registered significant growth in projector sales across the region. It is ranked one number in Saudi Arabia with 25.3 per cent and third in the UAE and Pakistan with 13 per cent and 15 per cent market share respectively. It grew the UAE market from 8.16 per cent at the beginning of the year to 13 per cent by the second quarter of 2006 and increased its sales in Pakistan from 11.57 per cent and the fifth position in the first half of 2006 to 15 per cent by June this year.

In 2005, BenQ ranked sixth world wide in projector sales with a six per cent share of the market worth US$ 3 billion and sales of 4.1 million units. In the Asia Pacific region, the company ranked fourth with a nine per cent share of the market, estimated to be worth US$ 608 million and sales of 820,000 units. This represented an 18 per cent growth over 2004.

"We sold, 65,000 units were sold in the GCC market last year and the market was worth around US$ 55 million. BenQ has an 18 per cent market share in the GCC market," added Bakshi.

According to research forecasts, sales of 'pocket' projectors will rapidly increase to more than 1.5m units by 2010. Pocket projector revenues over the same period are predicted to jump from US $15m to US $500m. Though they are currently used as standalone products, by 2008 it is expected that pocket projectors will be designed to attach directly to a range of mobile business and consumer devices.