El Segundo (CA) - Sales for TFT LCDs with sizes of at least 10 inches have reached a record level in the third quarter of this year. For the first time, sales climbed above the $10 billion mark, landing at $11.89 billion.

The Q3 result represents a 20% increase over the $9.86 billion reported in Q2 of this year and a 41.9%gain compared to $8.38 billion in the same quarter of 2004, according to market research firm iSuppli.

Total large-sized LCD unit shipments in the third quarter rose to 55.5 million units, up 15 percent from 48.2 million in the second quarter and up 75.6 percent compared to 31.6 million in third quarter of 2004.

iSuppli said that revenue growth in the television market was driven by a strong rise in unit shipments, which increased to 7.3 million in the third quarter, up from 5.4 million in the second quarter. For the first time, the 32" segment became the dominant size for LCD TVs in the third quarter, accounting for 29 percent of units, while 20- and 26" panels tied for the second position, each with 22 percent, the market research firm said.

Combined desktop monitor and mobile PC panel shipments in the third quarter increased to 46 million units, up from 41 million during the previous quarter. Price increases in the segments of 17" and 15" devices for the desktop and 12" and 15" screens for notebooks allowed manufacturers to grow their revenues by $1 billion compared to the second quarter.

LG.Philips LCD maintained leading rank among manufacturers of large-sized TFT LCDs in the third quarter and finished the with a 21.3% market share. Samsung came in second with a 21.2% share.

The table below and attached presents iSuppli’s ranking of large-sized TFT-LCD suppliers in the second quarter. AUO landed at 14.2%, ChiMei and 11.5% and CPT at 7.3%.