Fueled by strong demand for TFT-LCD, thin-film transistor liquid crystal display, the LCD semiconductor market will nearly double in the next four years, according to a study released Thursday by IDC.

IDC, a US high-tech market research firm, said it expects the LCD semiconductor market to grow to 7 billion US dollars in 2008, up from 3.7 billion dollars in 2004.

The LCD semiconductor market is defined by IDC as TFT-LCD Driver IC (LDI), LCD Controller, LCD-TV Controller and DVI ICs (Digital Visual Interface).

"The rapid growth in the LCD semiconductor market naturally reflects demand for the LCD panels in notebook PCs, desktop PC LCD monitors, and LCD TV markets" said Stanley Jeong, research manager for TFT-LCD research at IDC.

However, Jeong said, it also reflects increasing semiconductor content per LCD panel.

The research firm also found that semiconductor unit growth will keep pace with LCD module shipments through 2005 and the LCD-TV panel semiconductor market will grow past the notebook panel semiconductor market in 2007.

Source: Xinhua