Samsung Electronics said global LCD market sales may be down in the first half of 2007 due to what it calls "seasonal factors," but it also predicts a surge in demand in the third and fourth quarters of next year that could lead to a possible shortage of product in some regions.
Lee Sang-wan, president of Samsung's LCD business, in a press conference last weekend in South Korea, did not elaborate on his apparently offhand mention of a possible shortage, according to Reuters.
Lee said the company was also targeting its newest production line (in a joint venture with Sony) to begin operations a few months ahead of its planned October 2007 startup. If this proves true, Samsung's eighth generation LCD line could be an applicable factor for the holiday shopping season a year from now.
The next-gen line will generate more glass panels cut from larger substrates, providing up to eight 46-inch panels per substrate.
