INTERVIEW-LG executive sees plasma turnaround in September
BERLIN, Aug 31 (Reuters) - LG Electronics (066570.KS) expects its plasma business to break even at operating level in September, the head of its digital display business told Reuters in an interview on Friday.
"We anticipate the turnaround for our panel business will be next month," said Simon Kang, who is responsible for LG's plasma business, which makes screens for LG's own televisions and for external customers.
Kang said price declines for plasma panels were slowing in the second half of 2007 as an oversupply situation was coming to an end, but said overall prices for 2007 would likely still be 30-35 percent lower than 2006 after a steep first-half decline.
He added in an interview at the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin that LG should sell 3 million plasma panels this year and more than 4 million next year, and said LG intended to remain in the plasma business for the long term.
((Reporting by Georgina Prodhan; Frankfurt newsroom +4969 7565 1265; georgina.prodhan@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: georgina.prodhan.reuters.com@reuters.net)) Keywords: ELECTRONICS FAIR/LGELECTRONICS
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