A trade mission of LCD TV vendors in China will visit Taiwan in June with plans to purchase up to 30 million flat panels from local makers, worth US$5.5 billion, up 28% in volume and 34% in value as compared to purchases made by a similar mission in 2010.

Both of the increased rates will be higher than the growth rate of the LCD TV retail market in China in 2011. Sales of LCD TVs in the China market grew 21% to 39 million units in 2010 and are expected to increase 18% to 46 million in 2011, according to industry sources.

Currently, over 90% of flat panels used by China-based TV makers are purchased from the world's top-four flat panel vendors – Samsung Electronics, LG Display, Chimei Innolux (CMI) and AU Optronics, with CMI taking up a 32% share.

Taiwan-based flat panel makers as a whole accounted for over 50% of TV panels consumed by TV makers in China in 2010 and the ratio is expected to further increase in 2011, the sources noted.