As Taiwan notebook makers have continued to expand their domination of the world’s contract notebook maker market, their counterparts in South Korea, including Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics and TriGem, have gradually shifted their focus to developing own-brand models to drive sales, according to sources at Taiwan makers.
Competition between Taiwan and South Korea vendors for a greater market share in emerging markets, including China, Central and Eastern Europe and South America, has recently intensified as South Korea makers are now concentrating their marketing efforts on these areas, the sources noted.
With strong footholds in some of the emerging markets, South Korea vendors hope that they can narrow the gaps with leading Taiwan vendors including Acer and Asustek Computer, the sources said.
|
Taiwan and South Korea vendors: 2004/2005 projected own-brand notebook shipments (thousand units) | ||||
|
Vendor |
2004f shipments |
2005f shipments |
Major markets |
Current ranking/status |
|
Acer |
3,200-3,500 |
5,000 |
Global |
Fifth largest vendor |
|
Europe |
No. 1 in 3Q 2004 with a 18.2% share | |||
|
Other areas |
No. 4 in Asia-Pacific area in 3Q 2004 and No. 3 in the Middle East and Africa in 2Q 2004. | |||
|
Asustek |
1,200 |
2,000 |
Global |
No. 10 |
|
China |
No. 6 in 3Q 2004 | |||
|
Taiwan |
No. 1 in 2Q 2004 with a 30% share | |||
|
Other areas |
No. 4 in Central and Eastern Europe, No. 1 in Russia, and No. 2 in Romania | |||
|
BenQ |
N/A |
250-300 |
Taiwan and China |
- |
|
Samsung |
350-400 |
N/A |
Asia-Pacific |
No. 8 in 3Q 2004 and No. 1 in South Korea with a 35% share |
|
Central and Eastern Europe |
No. 10 in 2Q 2004 with a 3% share | |||
|
LG |
>150 |
400 |
Ukraine |
No. 9 in 2Q 2004 |
|
South Korea |
Competing with Samsung | |||
|
TriGem |
250-300 |
>500 |
US |
No. 8 with Averatec-brand notebooks |
|
Other areas |
No. 3 in South Korea | |||
Source: compiled by DigiTimes, December 2004.
Article translated by Steve Shen and edited by John McClure
