In nearly all fields, incoming orders or electronic products rose by double digit percentage numbers during the first half of 2004. According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs Taiwan, at the present stage of the game, will at least comfortably hold its industry's global share percentages as of 2003:

Wireless LAN 92%
Optical storage 90%
Game consoles 90%
Motherboards 89%
ADSL modems 70%
Network products 70%
Notebook computers 70%
Servers 60%

Notebook PCs

Taiwan is currently the world's largest producer of notebook PCs According to the Market Intelligence Center of the government-back III ( Institute for Information Industries ) Taiwan's share of the global notebook PC market increased to 66% in 2003 from an allready high 49% as early as 1999.

Over the next few years, the notebook market is expected to outpace the growth of the PC sector with Taiwan expected to reap the gains. Global sales are expected to reach 50.16 million units in 2004, up 26.3% from 39.73 million in 2003, according to International Data Corporation (IDC).

For foreign buyers, the key players to watch in this field are: Acer, Asustek Computer, BenQ, Compal Electronics, Mitac International, Quanta Computer, Wistron.

PDA/Handheld

While the global personal digital assistant (PDA) market has weakened, Taiwan manufacturers have performed strongly in the first quarter of 204. Year of year growth for the period was 70% to 1,8million units, according to the MIC.

The leading handheld device manufacturers in Taiwan come from many areas of the IT industry. From companies focused solely on handsets and PDAs, such as High Tech Computer (HTC) and Compal Communications, to Taiwan's largest manufacturer Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry). This year Taiwan handheld device manufacturers have added two new players, AnexTEK Technology and Unitech Electronics.

Buyers should be aware of the following leading Taiwan PDA makers: AnexTEK Technology, Arima Communication, Asustek Computer, BenQ, CMC Magnetics, Chi Mei Communication Systems (CMCS) Compal Communications, Compal Electronics, Foxconn, High Tech Computer (HTC). Inventec Appliances, Lite-On Technology, Mitac International, Quanta Computer, Unitech Electronics, USI, Wistron, Wistron NeWeb.

Displays

Global flat-panel (FPD) demand will grown 22,7% to US$51.4 billion in 2004, up from US$ 41.9 billion in 2003, according the Taiwan-based Photonics Industry and Technology Development Association (PIDA).

The Taiwan LCD monitor share of the global supply is forecast to break 70% in 2004 due to a number of factors, DisplaySearch recently said that in Q1 2004 LCD monitors replaced traditional CRT monitors in terms of shipments. The Taiwan LCD monitor industry chain is growing increasingly mature, and in-house production of key components is steadily climbing.

In the Taiwan LCD TV industry, panel prices continue to fall and orders are flowing in from international consumer electronic vendors and PC vendors moving into the consumer electronics sector, such as Gateway. In the first quarter of 2004 Taiwan LCD TV shipment volume hit a new high of 400,000 units - close to the 410,000 units shipped for full year 2003.

Investments continue from large panel makers with AU Optronics Corp., set to investover US$11.9 billion to set up a new plant in the Central Taiwan Science Park to increase its production of TFT-LCD panels.

Key players to watch in this field are: AU Optronics, Chimei Optoelectronics, Hannstar, CPT, Quanta Display.

Optical Storage

In the first quarter of 2004, total shipments of optical disc drives of all types by Taiwan manufacturers was up 12,4% year on year to 27 million units, with a total production value of US$ 916 million, up 23,% on year, according to the Market Intelligence Center.

Discs: In 2004, production of optical discs was set to rise 37% to US$ 1.2 billion according to projections released by Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI). However, as Taiwan's production volume of DVD-R/+R discs is increasing fast, the price will keep falling and therefore year-on-year growth in dollars sales will gradually increase.