China's flat-screen (FS) television market is set to boom, with this year's output expected to reach 1.85 million units, the Beijing News reported Monday, citing a senior researcher in the TV industry.

"Also, price cuts are expected to follow the large increase in supply," noted Lu Renbo, vice-dean of the Market Economy Research Department at the Development Research Center of the State Council.

Referring to a quarterly report jointly released by his department and the China Electronic Chamber of Commerce, the researcher said that sales of FS TV sets reached 741,000 units in the first half, including 522,000 liquid crystal display (LCD) TVs and 219,000 plasma display products.

Domestically-produced items accounted for a large share, or 67 percent, of the high-end market, according to the latest statistics from China Market Monitor Co Ltd, a research firm under the country's statistical bureau.  In the LCD sector, domestic-made TVs amounted to 78 percent of the market.

Researchers attributed the high market-shares to the domestic manufacturers' superior marketing strategies and low-price policies when compared to their overseas rivals.

Also, the companies have a good mastery of advanced TV manufacturing technologies, they added.

(Shanghai Daily July 25, 2005)