Global '08 flat panel sales to rise by a fifth -DisplaySearch

TAIPEI, April 17 (Reuters) - Global sales of flat panels for computers and a wide array of consumer products are expected to grow by a fifth this year amid steady demand for laptops and thinner LCD TVs, research firm DisplaySearch said on Thursday.

Despite lingering concerns over a slowing U.S. economy, demand for laptop computers that use liquid crystal displays (LCDs) will remain strong in the next two years from the emerging markets, including China, Brazil, Russia and India, it said.

"Growth of notebook PCs in the emerging countries is faster than that of developed countries," David Hsieh, a vice president at the research firm, told a display seminar.

"Overall, the display market is still growing and it is stable this year."

In an industry dominated by Samsung (005930.KS), LG Display (034220.KS) and AU Optronics (2409.TW), DisplaySearch forecast worldwide sales of flat panels for products such as PCs, mobile phones, game consoles and TVs, would reach $123 billion in 2008, up 21 percent from 2007.

New technolgy could also help drive PC demand.

In the same seminar, AU (AUO.N) Vice President Paul Peng said he is betting on growth of global sales of desktop PCs that use full high-defination displays to allow users to watch TV. He did not give shipment forecasts.

Besides PCs, DisplaySearch said the lower penetration rates of LCD TVs in China and other countries in the Middle East and Latin America are also expected to increase this year.

Analysts are pinning hopes on the Olympic Games in Beijing this summer, which is expected to fuel demand for LCD TVs.

Global shipments of LCD TVs will top 100 million units this year, up from 78.5 million in 2007, according to another research firm iSuppli Corp. (US$1=T$30.3) (Reporting by Baker Li; editing by Ken Wills)