HannStar Board Aims for 50 Percent Share of Market for PCBs for Notebook PCs in 2010

With scale of the global market for notebook PCs to keep growing, HannStar Board Corp, a globally leading supplier of printed circuit boards (PCBs) for notebook PCs, aims for a 50 percent market share in the segment this year, according to the firm.

DisplaySearch, a global market survey institute, estimates global shipment of notebook and netbook PCs at 197 million units for 2010, up 17 percent from 169.6 million units shipped in 2009, with netbook PCs to contribute 39.7 million units in the year, growing 19 percent from an estimate of 33.3 million units for 2009.

Facing the strong market demand, Quanta Computer Inc and Compal Electronics Inc, the top two notebook PC makers in the world, have raised their shipment projections for 2010 and hence will have to place more orders for PCBs with their major supplier HannStar Board.

HannStar Board shipped around 62 million PCBs for notebook PCs with a 45 percent share of the segment in 2009, and ambitiously aims to boost the figures to 50 percent and 88 million units, respectively, in 2010. Plus, the firm has shown intense interest in production of PCBs used in station bases and related equipment because such applications generate higher margins, and is very likely venture into the segment soon.

Although copper prices will stay high this year, the firm, fortunately, has secured enough inventory of the raw material for production in the first quarter of the year, and will make procurement in advance as long as prices drop, so as to make sure its production won`t be disrupted due to shortage of the material.

Source: CENS