Meko Press Releases

Desktop Monitor Market in EMEA has tough start in 2008

DATE: 09^th April 2008

Having seen a very tough end to 2007, desktop monitor suppliers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) were hoping that things would improve in the early part of 2008. Unfortunately, research from Meko on the status of the desktop monitor market in the region in Q1 2008 suggests that things have not improved.

The company has compiled its latest sell-out data for Q1 2008 and, comparing year on year sales, it seems that shipments in the region could be down by as much as 30% by volume. This drop does follow what was a bumper first quarter of 2007 for the channel as relatively low prices for monitors drove demand. "As prices continued to rise during the latter part of 2007, there was a notable slowdown in sales into the channel", noted Pete Gamby, research director at Meko. "This seems to have continued in Q1 2008 as we heard numerous reports at CeBIT and in the past few weeks which suggest that sales are slow", he added.

Meko's latest forecast for sales in Q1 2008 indicate that shipments should be in the region of 13.4 million units. However, if the trend seen in distribution is more widely reflected in the whole market, total sales for the period could be as low as 12.3 million units. This would represent a 13% fall compared to the same period in 2007.

"Whilst we have only just begun to collate the data from the monitor makers for Q1, this early indication from the channel data tells us that the expected tight supply in the LCD market could become over-supply very much more quickly than expected", Gamby explained. "If sales in the LCD TV market do not progress as expected, prices in both the notebook and the desktop monitor market could come under downward pressure in the latter part of this year as LCD panel capacity is moved to these two markets".

Ends.

For comment, interviews or data, please contact:
Clare Carr
Marketing Executive
clarec@meko.co.uk
+44 (0)1252 835385

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