Samsung Electronics is projecting to distribute nearly four million LCD TVs this year, which means it should handle double the quantity compared to last year, according to David Steel, vice president of Samsung Electronics digital media business. The company announced it will focus mainly on the 42 and 46-inch segments during 2006, according to Steel.

Samsung was the top supplier in the Europe market in the fourth quarter of 2005 and that market currently accounts for 40% of global LCD TV demand, Steel added.

In the United States, even though Sony overtook Sharp to take the top position in the fourth quarter of last year, Samsung still has a pretty good chance to surpass them both and become the number one vendor in that market as well, Steel says.

Demand for LCD TV is expected to reach 30-40 million units this year, up from 16-18 million units in 2005.

Samsung is currently the global leader in the digital display TV market, which includes CRT, RP (rear-projector), PDP (plasma display panel) and LCD TV applications, with 8.2% of the market, Steel added.

To the recent rumors that the industry is going through a situation of oversupply of LCD TV panel demand in TFT LCD panel industry, Steel replied that the LCD TV segment is actually experiencing tight supply.