LCD use expected to grow steeply

The world market for all liquid crystal displays (LCDs) will double over the next six years, from $12.5 billion this year to $24.4 million in 2003 - a compound annual growth rate of more than 10 percent, say forecasters at Stanford Resources Inc., a market research firm in San Jose, Calif. LCD sales in 1996 were about 55 million units, which should increase to 139 million units in 2003. Active-matrix thin-film transistor LCDs will increase their revenue share of the market from 75 percent in 1997 to nearly 85 percent in 2003. - J.K.