BenQ Opens New Production Lines to Meet Increasing
Demand in the Region
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Sales of liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors have emerged as a bright spot in the region’s IT market, surpassing sales of rival cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors and beating growth predictions by a significant margin.
According to analyst group IDC, revenues are poised to exceed US$20 billion worldwide this year, exceeding CRT sales. In the Middle East, LCD monitors passed a watershed stage in February 2003, when sales surpassed those of traditional CRT monitors that previously dominated the market.
BenQ, the region’s leader in digital lifestyle products, has opened new production lines to meet high levels of demand for LCD monitors. The company is also shipping a larger volume of monitors to the region than ever before.
“Our own internal research at the end of last year showed there was a huge appetite for LCD monitors in the region, but demand has outstripped our most optimistic predictions,” said Robert Dung, managing director, BenQ Middle East.
In February 2003, LCD displays contributed 36% of the company’s total revenue, with particularly high demand for its latest 15” and 17” models.
New production lines opened
Demand levels vary from country to country in the Middle East, but the overall picture is one of rising awareness of the benefits of LCD technology converting into higher sales across the region. BenQ has witnessed a growing volume of sales as more customers weight the benefits of LCD monitors.
“The pattern across the Middle East is mixed but very positive,” said Dung. “In Egypt, for example, there is a still a bigger market for CRT monitors than LCD versions. Consumers in majority of GCC countries are displaying roughly equal LCD adoption rates to Europe and the USA.”
“However, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have emerged as jewels in the LCD crown. Adoption rates are higher in these countries than in Europe, which makes them very exciting markets,” he concluded.
Industry analysts have cited LCD monitors’ improved performance, better economy and sharper brightness and contrast levels as key reasons for their strong performance in the market. In addition, consumers’ health concerns have led them to select LCD monitors, because they emit no radiation.
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About BenQ
BenQ is an industry leader in networked lifestyle devices with an expertise that encompasses display, storage, imaging, wireless and broadband areas.
BenQ has manufacturing plants in Malaysia, Mexico, China and Taiwan. The company has 13,000 employees worldwide, supporting a strong global sales marketing and service network spanning Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Americas. BenQ has research and development facilities in Taiwan (Hsinchu Lab), China (Suzhou Software Development Center) and California,USA (Wireless Technology Center), and has more than 2,000 research and development employees in Suzhou, Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu and San Diego. BenQ has amassed nearly 1,000 global patents. BenQ’s 2002 revenue was US$3 billion. For more information about BenQ, please visit our website at www.BenQ.com.
© Press Release 2003
