The fourth quarter of 2004 was successful for monitor vendors in Canada. The market witnessed increased competition, which reduced prices for consumer and corporate purchasers, and intensified vendors’ go-to-market strategies.
As a result, overall shipments reached an estimated 610,400 units. This figure indicates a sequential increase in product demand and supply (11 per cent) and an annual decline (eight per cent). One of the major reasons why the market was successful, despite a slight annual decline in shipments, was the strong revenues ascertained by vendors. The higher priced LCD products continued to pick up momentum, and cannibalized the CRT market, which is positive for vendors. Leading competitors in the fourth quarter overall market were Dell, Samsung, BenQ, LG Electronics and ViewSonic. The same vendors led the market throughout 2004, with the ranking as such: Samsung, Dell, LG, ViewSonic and BenQ. Overall shipments were low in 2004 as vendors hit 2,293,400 units. Demand and supply are expected to pick up in 2005 and beyond, as LCDs decline in price, thereby increasing the incentive to purchase on behalf of consumer and corporate users.
The CRT market continued to experience challenges against the ever increasingly popularity of LCD products. Fourth quarter shipments were 258,900 units, and declined by 38 per cent annually. The 2004 shipment total was 1,187,900-units, and also indicated an annually decline of 31 per cent. Leading vendors were Dell, ViewSonic, LG, Samsung and IBM. \ The anticipated growth in LCD product segments is expected to hinder growth in the CRT segments in 2005. Fifteen-inch CRT monitor vendors shipped an estimated 4,515 units into the Canadian marketplace in the fourth quarter of 2004. ViewSonic jumped into the first place vendor position. IBM and LG Electronics rounded out the top three competitors. Vendors in the fourth quarter 2004 17-inch CRT monitor segment experienced sequential and annual declines in product demand. Total shipments were an estimated 200,203 units, down 6% from Q3 and 37 per cent from Q4 2003. Leading vendors were Dell, LG Electronics, ViewSonic, Samsung and IBM. Demand for 19-inch CRT monitors continued to wane in Q4 2004. Total shipments were 48,400 units; a decline of 36 per cent over the same period in 2003. Shipment activity also decreased one per cent sequentially. Dell, ViewSonic, Samsung, NECMitsubishi and KDS dominated the market in the fourth quarter. Vendors in the >20-inch CRT monitor segment shipped an estimated 5,800 units in the fourth quarter of 2004. Demand waned sequentially and annually for this product segment, as unit activity was down 23 per cent over Q4 03 and six per cent from Q3 04. IBM and ViewSonic were the leading vendors in this market. Finishing closely in third place was NECMitsubishi. Other leading vendors were Samsung and Dell.
Demand increased substantially for the LCD product line in the final quarter of 2004. Vendors reached a combined level of 351,500 units, indicating growth of 51% over 2003. Closing out the year, LCD vendors hit 1,105,500 units, also a rise of 51%. Leading vendors were Samsung, BenQ, Dell, LG and Acer in the fourth quarter. For the year, the top five vendors were Samsung, BenQ, Dell, NEC-Mitsubishi and LG. Continued strong demand and supply are expected for the LCD segments to 2007. Overall, product demand is expected to increase in the monitor market to 2007. Declining LCD prices will contribute to purchasers, as will replacement of current (2004) products. The future bodes well for vendors, distributors and resellers alike. Total 15-inch LCD shipments were 106,989 units, which represented an increase of 24 per cent sequentially, and a decline of three per cent annually. Dell, Samsung, BenQ, IBM and Acer were the leading Q4 competitors. Vendors shipped an estimated 191,300 17-inch LCD units in the fourth quarter of 2004. Unit activity rose 103 per cent annually. Leading vendors were Samsung, BenQ, LG, Acer and Dell. Strong annual activity is expected in this product segment to 2007, as users are expected to migrate to this screen size. Demand and supply continued to decline drastically for the 18-inch LCD products. Overall fourth quarter shipments were a scant 1,100 units, or a decline of 92 per cent annually. This segment is not expected to be strong in 2005. However, in Q4 2004, NEC-Mitsubishi was a very strong competitor. Philips and HP were the other two leading vendors. The 19-inch LCD product segment experienced a 103 per cent annual growth in the final quarter of 2004 as shipments hit the 44,700-unit mark. Declining prices and strong inventory levels will contribute to this segment’s (anticipated) success in 2005. Leading fourth quarter vendors were BenQ, Samsung, NEC-Mitsubishi, ViewSonic and LG. ViewSonic dominated the 20-inch LCD product segment in the fourth quarter. Overall shipments were 7,400 units, and represented an increase of 118 per cent annually. Other leading vendors were Samsung, NEC-Mitsubishi, BenQ and IBM. Strong demand and supply is expected in this segment to 2007.