Taipei, Dec. 4, 2008 (CENS)--The Japan-based Toshiba Corp., a globally leading vendor of own brand consumer electronics, is going to double the volume of outsourced LCD (liquid crystal display) TVs from Taiwanese makers to 4 million units in 2009 from 2 million bought in 2008, according to DisplaySearch, a global market survey institute.

In addition to existing contract supplier Compal Electronics Inc., which will absorb 2 million units of the total contract production, Toshiba is planning to contract another Taiwanese LCD TV maker to supply the remaining.

David Hsieh, general manager of DisplaySearch Taiwan branch, said that Toshiba`s plan has attracted five of Taiwanese LCD TV makers, namely Wistron Corp., TPV Technology Ltd., Innolux Display Corp., AmTran Technology Co. and Proview Electronics Co., to actively vie for the huge orders, with Wistron and TPV most likely to outbid others.

Toshiba has set an annual global sales goal of 15 million LCD TVs for 2010, and, in response to sales growth in Japan, the U.S., Europe and Southeast Asia, has already decided to outsource 8 million units out of the total to Taiwanese makers in the year.

A more encouraging news for Taiwanese LCD TV makers is that Sony, Panasonic and Sharp will also place more outsourcing orders with them next year, according to Hsieh.
(by Steve Chuang)