Seoul, Korea & San Jose, CA, December 15, 2011- Displaybank, a global authority in market research and consulting for the display industry, today announced that LGP (Light Guide Plate) market for TV will continue to grow thanks to the growth of LED LCD TV. According to recent report published by Displaybank, ‘Light Guide Plate for LED LCD TV 2012,’ market size of LGP for TV is expected to be USD 760M in 2011, increased by 94% Y-o-Y, and USD 1.118B in 2012, increasing by 47% Y-o-Y.

As LCD TV share in the entire TV market increases up to 83% this year, the front market, which LCD TV can take other devices, reaches limit to some extent. However, as interests in eco-friendly, low-power consumption rise, LED light source adoption rate for BLU light source is expected to increase continuously. Displaybank expects LED BLU adoption rate of LCD TV module to increase to 43% level in 2011 and 64% level in 2012, and thus LGP market for TV is expected to continue to grow.

LGP for TV related industry environment have changed significantly compare to 2010. In the past, raw material of PMMA, MMA and lack of processing infrastructure were the biggest issues. However, external threats, such as low-cost backlit TV expected to be available early next year and AMOLED TV expected to be introduced next year, will be magnified and act as variables in growth potential of the market.

Due to oversupply caused by global economic crisis and potential external threats, 2011 LGP price decreased drastically than expected and downward trend is expected to be continued next year. LGP companies are introducing innovative technology and processing development, and effort to promote economies of scale through internalization on related business process and diversification of customers are accelerating.

Technologies of high-brightness, local dimming, micro-optical pattern are constantly being developed as issue on cost-saving emerges, but even if it is the innovative technology, if there is low-possibility of cost-saving, it does not get much attention. In terms of product thickness, 3mm-level has been applied to mainstream products in 2011. However, it will not be easy to introduce 2.5mm or 2mm next year because as thickness of LGP, serving as key optical technology of edge-type, gets thinner, it is not easy to conserve the intensity of radiation and currently, 2mm-level products are not cheaper than mass-produced 3mm-level products.

2012 LGP industry is expected to continue with the high-intensity technology development and innovation to improve low-cost backlit-prepared competitiveness in the growing market size.

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Forecast of LGP Market for TV 

<Source: Displaybank Report, ‘Light Guide Plate for LED LCD TV 2012’>