South Korea’s Samsung Electronics Co. has stepped closer to topping the global TV market for the 18th year in a row this year as it took up more than 30 percent of the market in the first quarter on the back of robust sales of premium TVs.

According to market research firm Omdia on Tuesday, global shipments of TVs reached 46.25 million units in the January-March period, down 5.2 percent from the same period a year ago. It is the lowest figure for the first quarter since 2009.

By value, shipments reached $22.48 billion, down 12.5 percent during the same period.

Omdia, however, expected the global TV market to recover from the second half of this year and projected overall shipments at 205.5 million units, up slightly from last year.

Samsung Electronics retained its top position by value with a 32.1 percent market share, followed by LG Electronics Inc. with 17.1 percent, and China‘s TCL Technology Group Corp. with 9.9 percent.

Samsung Electronics accounted for 38.8 percent of the market for TVs sized 75-inch and larger. Its market share in the U.S. and Europe, the world’s two largest markets for premium TVs, amounted to 52.6 percent and 60.7 percent, respectively.

In the 80-inch and larger segment, Samsung Electronics’ 98-inch new TVs helped the manufacturer solidify its leadership with 43.9 percent of the market share.

For premium TVs priced over $2,500, Samsung Electronics’ market share rose 9.9 percentage points from a year ago to 59.1 percent.

LCD-based QLED TVs were sold at 3.73 million units in the first quarter globally, up 13 percent on year. Samsung Electronics sold 2.15 million QLED TVs, accounting for 57.5 percent of the total.

Samsung Electronics QLEDs recorded cumulative sales of 38 million units since its launch in 2017 as of the first quarter.



LG Electronics, which dominates the large organic light emitting diode (OLED) panel market for TVs, remained at the top in the OLED TV market in the first quarter with a 58.8 percent market share based on shipments.

LG Electronics boasts the largest supply capacity by selling its OLED TVs in 130 countries. The company was the first to exceed 15 million shipments last year.

The company accounted for more than 75 percent of the market for 70-inch or larger OLED TVs.

LG Electronics aims to solidify its leadership in the premium segment with its Signature OLED M to be released later this year. The product utilizes the world’s first 4K and 120Hz wireless transmission solutions.

LG Electronics has made a commitment to ensuring stable inventory amid weak demand for TVs due to the sluggish economy, the company said.

Premium OLED TVs accounted for more than 30 percent of its entire sales.

OLED TVs are expected to take up 12 percent of the global TV market this year.

Omdia forecast OLED TVs will take up 46.1 percent of the global market for premium TVs priced over $1,500 this year, up from 36.7 percent last year.

By Pulse

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