By Kim Yoo-chul
Staff Reporter
Plasma module makers such as Samsung SDI and LG Electronics have surged ahead of Japanese rival Matsushita in the first quarter of this year, mainly buoyed by effective ``niche marketing.’’
According to data from DisplaySearch, a market research firm, Samsung SDI sold $451 million in plasma modules in the first three months of this year, winning the top spot with a 31.8 percent market share. LG Electronics soared to No. 2 with a 29.5 percent share, while Matsushita slipped to No. 3 with 29.4 percent.
``By selling larger-sized modules such as 50-inch ones, we got very impressive results,’’ a spokesperson from Samsung SDI said Tuesday. Samsung sold $190 million solely in 50-inch modules during the period ― 42 percent of the total.
By plasma module shipments, LG Electronics ranked No. 1 with a 34.8 percent share in the Jan.-March period. Samsung SDI and Matsushita were No. 2 and No. 3 with 30.5 percent and 27.0 percent, respectively, according to the research firm.
``The result was due to a successful launch of our 32-inch plasma modules,’’ an official from LG Electronics said. LG shipped 43 percent of all 32-inch plasma modules in the quarter.
Industry experts say sluggish performances of other Japanese makers like Hitachi and Pioneer partly helped the South Korean firms.
``Whatever the cause, prices of plasma TV sets have been on a continual slide, meaning we have more room to keep sustainable growth momentum,’’ said an LG official, adding that a slowdown in the U.S. market could also motivate flat-screen manufacturers to focus on smaller sizes than they had initially intended.
Samsung SDI and Panasonic now plan to jump into the 32-inch plasma TV set market, inspired by bullish moves from LG Electronics. Specifically, the chief of Panasonic’s European division earlier told The Korea Times in Spain that the company is just starting the 32-inch PDP business.